New Delhi: Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Rathore on Tuesday congratulated all the players, who clinched medals in the ongoing 18th edition of the Asian Games.
The minister further credited the government schemes like Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and Khelo India for the glory at the prestigious quadrennial event.
Speaking to ANI Rathore said, “Every time Indian players win medal at Asian Games we all feel proud. Youngsters feel confident that if fellow players could do well then they are also capable of performing well.
All the players who won medals be it Bajrang Punia, Lakshay Sheron, Vinesh Phogat, Sourabh Chaudhary we had already selected them under Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). We provided them with all the required facilities and coaching.”
“The way these players prepared and went on to win medals at the Asian Games is commendable and I congratulate each and every one of them for the achievement,” he added.
The minister gave a special thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his initiatives like Khelo India in the field of sports and asserted that it is under his guidance that the country has already started preparing for 2024 and 2028 Olympics.
“I thank Prime Minister Modi to bring about a revolution in sports in the form of Khelo India. Every year after Olympics, we curse nation for doing nothing for the athletes and later forget about it. But this time we have already started the preparations under the guidance of Narendra Modi, for 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games,” Rathore said.
Earlier in the day, teen shooter Saurabh Chaudhary had clinched gold medal in 10m Air Pistol event.
Abhishek Verma, the other Indian in the fray, settled for a bronze medal in the same event.
Reflecting on his victory, Verma said that he is happy that he could bring laurels for the country and is feeling content with the way he performed in the competition.
Talking to ANI, Verma said, “I feel happy that I could do this for India. I feel great. I was a little nervous in the final but later I calmed down. I am happy with my performance.”
Other India shooter, Sanjeev Rajput, also clinched silver medal in men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event.
India’s total medal tally at the ongoing 18th edition of the prestigious event stands at eight with three gold, three silver and two bronze.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]