PM Narendra Modi urges support for Tokyo-bound athletes as #Cheer4India campaign starts

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the country to throw their weight behind the athletes who are set to represent India at Tokyo 2020, which is slated to get underway from July 23, 2021.

He also asked the people to take to social media and express their support to Olympics-bound athletes through a #Cheer4India hashtag campaign.

Modi made the plea during his monthly radio address to the nation called 'Mann Ki Baat'. Interestingly, Modi also asked that the athletes be not burdened with over expectations.

“They are not just going there for themselves but for the nation. These players will have to bring laurels to the nation and also win people’s hearts. And this is why my countrymen, I advise you not to pressurise the players knowingly or unknowingly," he said.

“We should support them with an open mind and encourage them."

“You can wish them on social media with #Cheer4India,” he said. If you come across any idea which the country should do for our players, then please send them to me. We will all support our players bound for Tokyo,” he said.

The PM also paid his tribute to the legendary sprinter Milkha Singh who succumbed to Covid-19 on June 19. The Flying Sikh was one of the finest athletes India had produced, coming ever so close to an Olympic medal at Rome 1960 in the 400m event.

"We are talking about Tokyo Olympics, so how can one forget about such a legendary athlete like Milkha Singh. Some days back, we lost Milkha Singh as he lost his battle to Covid-19,” he said.

“When he was in the hospital, I had a chance to talk to him. I told him that he led our contingent in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and that is why you need to talk to our contingent who would head to the Tokyo Olympics this year. I told him that he needs to motivate them," PM Modi said during the programme.

“But unfortunately, destiny had something else in store. I still remember he had come to Surat in 2014 and we had inaugurated a night marathon. That time, we had a chat about sports and I really got inspired by that," he added.

Modi also made it a point to highlight the stories of several Olympic-bound athletes including Pravin Jadhav, Neha Goyal and Deepika Kumari.

"Pravin Jadhav of Satara district in Maharastra is an outstanding archer. His parents work as labourers and now Jadhav is going to participate in his first Olympics in Tokyo," said Modi.

"Neha Goyal is a member of India's Women's Hockey team. Her mother and sisters work at cycle manufacturing to run the family. Deepika Kumari's journey has also been full of ups and downs. Deepika is the only woman archer to represent India at Tokyo Olympics," he added.

As of now, a total of 107 Indian athletes have qualified for Tokyo in 18 disciplines.