Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised India’s women athletes for their performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, highlighting their 38 medals as a sign of a changing India.
Meeting the Indian contingent at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi, the Prime Minister congratulated the athletes after India finished fourth in the medal tally with 85 medals, including 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze.
“These medals are not just a number. This is a picture of a new India,” PM Modi said, praising the athletes for bringing honour to the country.
Prime Minister Modi congratulated the women’s hockey team for ending a 44-year wait for Asian Games gold. Both the men’s and women’s hockey teams won gold at the same edition for the first time in the tournament’s history.
“Both teams have won gold medals this time. And especially our women’s hockey team. You have brought gold and completed the long wait of 44 years,” the Prime Minister said.
Several Indian women athletes achieved notable milestones at the Games.
Seventeen-year-old Kumkum Mohod became the first Indian woman to win individual recurve archery gold at the Asian Games. She further helped India secure team gold, with the country defeating South Korea in both finals.
Neeru Dhanda became India’s first individual women’s trap gold medallist at the Games. She won mixed trap gold with Kynan Chenai and women’s team silver alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer.
Pranavi Urs became the first Indian woman to win Asian Games golf gold and helped India secure team silver.
Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu claimed silver in the women’s 49kg category, ending India’s 28-year wait for an Asian Games weightlifting medal. The achievement added to her collection of international medals across major competitions.
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