Special Olympics Bharat athletes meet Indian men’s hockey team ahead of 2024 Paris Games

Published at :July 4, 2024 at 11:43 AM

Modified at :July 4, 2024 at 11:43 AM

(Courtesy : Hockey India)

The Paris Olympics will commence on July 26.

A contingent of Unified Athletes from the Karnataka Chapter of Special Olympics Bharat met with the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, which is currently training at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru in preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics. The visit provided a unique opportunity for the Special Olympics athletes to watch the team practice and offer their enthusiastic support.

Following Team India’s practice session, a heartwarming meet-and-greet took place, where the Indian Men’s Hockey Team players interacted with the Special Olympics Bharat athletes and offered them words of motivation and advice. The Chief Coach of the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, Craig Fulton, expressed his gratitude during this interaction, stating, “We are grateful for your support. While our athletic pursuits are different, the journey is the same for all of us.”

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Echoing these sentiments, midfielder Manpreet Singh added, “It is wonderful to have the Special Olympics Bharat athletes visit us and motivate us. It is truly inspiring to hear their stories and their love for the sport. I hope we can make them all proud when we represent India at the Olympics.”

This visit not only motivated the Indian Men’s Hockey Team but also highlighted the shared passion and dedication towards sports, bridging a connection between athletes.

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Speaking on the meet-and-greet activity, SO Bharat President Dr. Mallika Nadda expressed her gratitude to the national sports federation and said, “We are thankful to Hockey India for inviting us to be a part of their Olympic journey and allowing our athletes to give their best wishes to the team for the upcoming tournament. It was a memorable day for our athletes to spend time with the hockey stars and get inspired by their stories. At SO Bharat, we believe in spreading our message of inclusivity through sports, and we are confident that more such collaborations with national bodies like Hockey India will help us achieve our mission.”

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