New Delhi: India has sent highest 119 players to Olympic this year. The country should aim for sending more than 200 Indian players in Tokyo Olympic which is scheduled to take place in 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today while flagging off Run for Rio at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi. Run for Rio event was organized in support of Indian players in Rio Olympic.

PM in his address said, not just every state but each of over 600 districts should aim for sending its player to Tokyo Olympic. He said his government has not got so much time as it is in power for just last two years, but still many steps have been taken to ensure better performance in Rio Olympic.

Olympic budget which was around Rs 15-20 crore has reached Rs 125 crore mark this year. Earlier players were sent just two days before the games to Olympic as per rule, but this year they have been sent 15 days in advance so that they can acclimatize with atmosphere, ground, weather and can adjust jet lag. Earlier our players had to consume whatever food available abroad, but this time we have ensured they get Indian food as per their requirement in terms of comfort and need. Earlier govt officials accompanying Indian participants would get 200 dollars while player would get 100 dollars. We have brought parity between two. The PM said, this time players were asked to choose coach, country and city of their choice for training. Government spent Rs 30 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore for each player.

He said, After the games of Olympic are over, lot of criticism is made in print regarding India’s shortcomings, but such criticism would happen only for a month or so. Then after everything is forgotten. When we came to power, we collected the data and decided to make corrections accordingly well in advance before Rio. We converted criticize into opportunity. We looked at criticism as point of corrective action.

Modi said India is connected to Olympic for over last 100 years but for the first time we have been successful to ensure entry of 119 players to Rio.

He said, there will be many players in Olympic, but not all players will have support of over 100 crore people.

PM said, Khelo aur Khilo(do play and do bloom) and let the nation also play and bloom. PM asked players to prepare for 2020 Tokyo Olympic.

DeshGujarat