Coronavirus: PM Narendra Modi speaks with Indian sporting stars

The athletes were asked to spread awareness about the global pandemic.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with around 50 Indian sportspersons from all over the country over video conference and discussed the coronavirus outbreak in India. Top athletes who have excelled in their respective fields, spoke with PM Modi about the current situation in the country.

The likes of Mary Kom, PV Sindhu, Pullela Gopichand, Vishwanathan Anand, Hima Das, Bajrang Punia, Neeraj Chopra, Manu Bhaker and PT Usha were on the call along with Indian cricketers Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and KL Rahul. BCCI president and former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly was also present in the call along with other cricketers like Chesteshwar Pujara, Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma.

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Ever since the government has enforced the 21-day lockdown in the country due to this pandemic, this is the first time PM Narendra Modi has spoken to sportspersons, mainly to spread awareness and help and stop the spread of this deadly virus.

The PM praised them for their hard work and the glory they have brought to this country in their respective sports. He also added that how it is important for them to boost the morale of their countrymen by spreading the message of social distancing and also to follow advisories available to them regarding this global pandemic.

Modi highlighted that the traits of discipline, positivity, self-belief and ability to face challenges mindset among sports personalties is what required during this time of emergency in order to combat the spread of the virus.

Modi also touched the point of how being mentally and physically fit will help people during these times and feels that the sportspersons are prime examples for the nation to follow.

The sportspersons also thanked PM Modi for his supreme leadership skills and also thanked the frontline service providers for carrying on with their duties tirelessly through this pandemic. Modi believes that India can come out of this situation and sportspersons will play a vital role in it.

Sporting events starting from the Olympics to Wimbledon to even the Indian Premier League have been either cancelled or postponed. The IPL is postponed till April 15. Athletes, who were gearing up for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, have spoken with the Sports Minister Mr. Kiren Rijiju about the challenges they are facing in training due to this nationwide lockdown.

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The sportspersons who were in the call with PM Narendra Modi were:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Cricket), Virat Kohli (Cricket), Rohit Sharma (Cricket), Mamatha Poojary (Kabaddi), Sourav Ganguly (Cricket), Sachin Tendulkar (Cricket), Virender Sehwag (Cricket), Mohd Shami (Cricket), KL Rahul (Cricket), Cheteshwar Pujara (Cricket), Yuvraj Singh (Cricket), Zaheer Khan (Cricket), PT Usha (Athletics), Yogeshwar Dutt (Wrestling), Bajrang Punia (Wrestling), Vinesh Phogat (Wrestling), PV Sindhu (Badminton), Mary Kom (Boxing), Hima Das (Athletics), Viswanathan Anand (Chess), Rani Rampal (Hockey), Deepika Kumari (Archery), Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting), Neeraj Chopra (Athletics), Sharad Kumar (Para Athletics), Apurvi Chandela (Shooting), Manu Bhaker (Shooting), Tarundeep Rai (Archery), Bhaichung Bhutia (Football), Sardara Singh (Hockey)Achanta Sharath Kamal (Table Tennis), Amit Panghal (Boxing), Gagan Narang (Shooting), Anju Bobby George (Athletics), Rohan Bopanna (Tennis), Ankita Raina (Tennis), Sai Praneeth (Badminton), Srihari Natraj (Swimming), Harmeet Desai (Table Tennis), Abhishek Verma (Shooting), Avinash Sable (Athletics), KT Irfan (Athletics), Lovlina Boroghain (Boxing), Simranjeet Kaur (Boxing), Jeremy (Weightlifting), Bhavani Devi (Fencing), Pramod Bhagat (Para Badminton).

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