Largest-ever Indian contingent given a formal virtual send-off for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
A 54-member, largest ever Indian contingent was given a formal and virtual send-off today to Tokyo Paralympic Games by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag SinghThakur. The athletes were addressed and sent best wishes by Anurag Thakur via a video message. Minister of Tourism G.K Reddy, and MoS External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi were also present and addressed the athletes.
At the formal send-off ceremony, Anurag Thakur said, “India is sending it’s largest ever contingent to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo – 54 para-sports persons across 9 sports disciplines. The passion of our Para-Athletes shows their phenomenal human spirit. Remember that when you play for India you will have a 130 crore Indians cheering for you! I am extremely confident that our para- athletes will give their optimum best! Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met our Rio 2016 Paralympic Games athletes and has always had a keen interest for the welfare of our athletes and focused the government’s approach on nurturing talent along with development of sports Infrastructure across the country. Here’s wishing them the very best!”
Minister of Tourism, G.K Reddy said, “Blessings of whole nation are with the athletes and national flag should fly high again in Tokyo. It is dream of every player to do good at international level and make its country proud and he firmly believes that Paralympic athletes will fulfil this dream”. The Union Minister also added that the Government has always supported sports persons and said that the vision of the Prime Minister needed to be lauded in conceiving the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) in 2014.
Deepa Malik, President of Paralympic Committee of India said “Everyone has worked very hard and we are looking at very amazing competition at Tokyo 2020 and are very confident that we are going to bring lot of joy, lot of glory to the tricolour.”
54 athletes from India will be competing in 9 sports disciplines including Archery, Athletics (Track and Field), Badminton, Swimming, Weight Lifting among others.
