'Aspire to be leaders in sports world,' says India sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya

Minister of Sports Mandaviya asks for continued progress.

Ahead of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics 2024, Arjuna Awardee and Olympian boxer Akhil Kumar, Asian Games Gold medallists Ronjon Sodhi and Abhishek Verma, Olympic Bronze medallist and star former hockey player Ashok Dhyanchand and Tokyo Paralympic medallists Yogesh Kathunia and Devendra Jhajhariya engaged in an interactive session to discuss India’s preparation for the multisport event at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium here, organised by the Delhi Sports Journalist Association (DSJA) in collaboration with Sports Authority of India (SAI). 

Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya graced the discussion with his presence, along with Raksha Khadse, Hon’ble Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sport, Sujata Chaturvedi, Secretary, Sports, Sandip Pradhan, DG, Sports Authority of India (SAI), and Commodore PK Garg, CEO, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), also graced the occasion. 

Speaking about the event, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, “The new age India has seen a lot of progress but this is just the beginning. By 2047, when we complete 100 years of Independence, we aspire to be among the leaders in sports in the world. Which is why such platforms for discussion are important. The journalists who cover these sports are also responsible for capturing the emotions that an athlete goes through when they win a medal or even represent the country at this stage. I wish all our athletes all the best for the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics and I am sure they will make our country proud.”

“In 2004, when I went to the Athens Paralympics, I went out of my own money. I went and won the Gold and also broke the world record. Since then, there has been a lot of progress in Indian sports. After missing out on the 2008 and 2012 editions of the Paralympics, I returned for the 2016 Olympics and won Gold.

Now, as the president of the Paralympic Committee of India, I am 100% sure that we will do very well in both the Olympics and the Paralympics. Our target is to cross the 25-medal tally this time around,” shared Devendra Jhajhariya, elected president of the Indian Paralympic Committee.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Tripathi, President of the Delhi Sports Journalist Association said, “I am very happy to be in the presence of such eminent dignitaries as we celebrate and discuss the preparations that our athletes will undergo ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024.

The collaboration of the Delhi Sports Journalist Association and the Sports Authority of India is special. I would also like to thank the honourable Sports Minister for joining us at such short notice. The Gold medal won by Neeraj Chopra is a step in the right direction, and now, we have to build on that momentum and improve our performance in the Paris Olympics and Paralympics.”

“Winning a medal brings out a lot of emotions, not only for the athletes but also for the nation as a whole. It is my pride to have the Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya share his best wishes for the Indian contingent, as well as such an elite panel for this discussion. The Indian athletes who will be travelling to Paris are ready to make our country proud. As the journalists responsible for covering this event, we look forward to seeing them on the podium with the national flag flying in the background,” Secretary Sabi Hussain said after the event. 

On the day of the panel discussion, the Sports Authority of India also launched the ‘Pathway to Paris’ book at the event, highlighting the road to Olympics 2024 for the Indian contingent. 117 athletes from India will be travelling to Paris, with the Olympic Games scheduled from July 26 to August 11. The Paralympic Games will take place from August 28 to September 8.

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