Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his confidence to the athletes, who were assembled in good strength, that they would “make everyone proud” with their performances in the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
“When a country is an economic power, there is a sense of pride in everyone. Similarly, when one sportsperson shines, the whole country feels a sense of pride,” said the Home Minister, who made a quick visit to the send-off function, to express his solidarity with Indian sports, despite very important commitments.
Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, addressed the athletes and inspired them by recalling how he had followed the Olympics and other games with intense admiration over the years.
“When P.T. Usha missed the medal in the Los Angeles Games in 1984, I did not eat properly for a month,” said Rijiju.
He also remembered how proud he felt when the current sports minister, Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, had won the silver at the Athens Olympics.
“Your sports minister is in Bengaluru and thus could not be here. In Parliament, I stand up for the sports ministers whenever they are away, and it is easy to answer questions,” he said.
Looking back at India’s performance in the past editions of the Games, Rijiju wished that the “contingent of 222 athletes would win many medals”.
“You are fortunate to represent the country. Do no such thing to defame the country on the field and off the field,” he said.
“Have a wonderful time on the field and off it,” he told the athletes.
Chef De Mission Vikram Sisodia assured the athletes of all support to ensure their best performance. He hoped that from fifth in the last edition at Glasgow, India would make it to the top-3 in the medals table.
With Edelweiss extending long-term support for Indian sports, till the Tokyo Olympics, Shabnam Panjwani, the marketing head, sought the media to highlight the performances of women athletes on the front pages so as to encourage the rest of the girls to take up sports.
Edelweiss, which has come up with a slogan “Team India, Be Unlimited”, will offer ₹50 lakh insurance cover to every Indian athlete competing in the Games.
With many already training or competing abroad, about 50-odd athletes and officials from hockey, wrestling, cycling, shooting and other sports were given a bouquet and a token kit on the occasion.
