Invited for breakfast at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg on Monday, over 200 members of the Indian Olympics contingent to Tokyo spent two-and half hours in the company of host PM Narendra Modi, who made two specific requests from them - first, that they keep talking about malnutrition and ways to eliminate it and second, in keeping with the spirit of the ongoing ‘Amrit Mahotsava’, they visit at least 75 schools by August 15 next year to engage and encourage schoolchildren through sports.
In a departure from previous protocols for breakfast at the PM’s residence that usually involves a ceremonial address followed by a group photo, Modi met all the players one by one as he moved from one table to the other, some seating the hockey team, another the boxers, and similarly archers and track and field participants.
Players’ were served their favourite delicacies and promises made by the PM during the send-off to Tokyo were fulfilled. like for badminton bronze winner P V Sindhu who relished butterscotch icecream, after having denied herself the pleasure due to her strict fitness regime. Javelin gold winner Neeraj Chopra was also seen savouring “Churma”, which he had mentioned was his favourite comfort food.
The invitees included medal winners, those who couldn’t end up in the podium, coaches and federation office-bearers. There were lighter moments too like when the mike of swimmer Maana Patel stopped functioning. In a lighter vein, Modi said, “Your mike had to go quiet … You are next to a politician. I feel honoured and fortunate to have met PM Narendra Modi today. You and your government have been very supportive to sports and I know that this will continue for years to come and we will get more medals for India,” tweeted bronze winning wrestler Bajrang Punia.
