Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a trendsetter in many things – not just in domestic policies and international diplomacy – but also in his interaction with sportspersons. He makes it a point to interact with athletes when they are bound for a major sports event, and also when they come back. He is known for giving a pep talk to athletes and many give him credit for being an inspiration to them.
One of the athletes quipped: “The images of Modiji treating Neeraj Chopra to churma or PV Sindhu to ice cream had gone viral, but very few know that the PM is also a keen follower of Indian sportspersons and their fortunes at the international events.”
The words of advice PM Modi had for ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was disappointed at having missed a medal in the Tokyo Olympics, is something of folklore. The PM cooled down a visibly frustrated Vinesh by saying, “Never let success go to your head and never let failure go to your heart.”
Dinesh, a para athlete, was a witness to the warmth the PM had shown to the athletes at one of the facilitation events. “He (PM Modi) was making an effort to have a chat with a majority of the athletes. He walked up to almost all the athletes and engaged with them. It was quite unbelievable!” said Dinesh