Neeraj Chopra said he was concerned about his own body, P V Sindhu spoke of self-belief, while Nikhat Zareen gushed about her first-time Olympian status in a candid interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. Members of the men's hockey team and the 21-strong shooting contingent were present at the event, with the likes of Chopra, Sindhu and Zareen tuning in from their respective overseas training bases.
Having nursed an adductor niggle over the past months, he expressed a one-track objective in arriving in Paris "fully fit" to defend his Olympic gold in javelin throw from Tokyo. He told the PM, "We are now training in Germany and it is going very well. This time I am playing in less competitions because on and off I am suffering from an injury. But now it is a lot better, a few days back I played a competition in Finland and that was pretty good."
"We have one month before the Olympics and I am trying to reach Paris completely fit and give 100 per cent for my country," he added.
"Olympics comes in four years and I would like to tell every athlete that you get this chance once in four years and we must try to find out what is that thing which can push us to give our best."
Chopra asked his fellow athletes bound for Paris to compete fearlessly on the grandest sporting stage. "It was my first Olympics, and I had great success; winning gold for my country. Fear did not come across my mind as I confidently obeyed my own training done back in Kenya," he said. "I advise every athlete: do not fear no one or nothing. Europeans or Americans, they're humans like us. Always remember that after living far from home and having trained hard, nothing is impossible if we know ourselves."
Coming backstage to a promise he had made after Tokyo, Chopra said he had promised to bring homemade Churma, a traditional Haryanvi sweet, for Modi. The prime minister, he said, reminded him of that. He promised to bring Churma made with desi ghee and jaggery from Haryana this time.
Speaking to the athletes, Modi stressed on the necessity of remaining cool and making sure they rest for their best performances. "In sports, victories and losses are part of the journey. Do not let the enormity of the Olympics take you off your focus," he said. "Have faith in your ability and focus on them; results will follow. No matter how many medals, giving your 100% matters."
Modi also talked of good rest to athletes. "In sports and every other field, it is practice, practice, practice. But for good practice, one needs to have good sleep. You surely have to have quality sleep which can be stress-free. We have made ready the fundamental facilities to make you rest well," he assured.
Wishing the contingent all the best, Modi said he would invite the Olympic-bound athletes as special guests for this year's Independence Day celebrations. "I extend my best wishes to all of you. After your return from Paris, I shall attempt having you join us during the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort."
Confident about her third Olympic appearance, two-time Olympic medalist Sindhu expressed her aspiration to change the color of her medal in Paris. "I won silver in 2016 and bronze in Tokyo. This time I want to change the color of medal," she said. "I've been to the Olympics two times already, but it is not going to be easy this time. But I will give my best," she assured during her interaction with the PM.
Two-time world championship gold medalist boxer Zareen, who made her Olympic debut, also sounded equally excited and focused on meeting national expectations. "I'm really excited but focused because the country is expecting a lot from me. I will do everything possible at my end to live up to the expectations, make my country proud, and come back with glory," she stated.
Having captured a bronze in Tokyo, the Indian men's hockey team will now look forward to another podium finish. "Really a proud moment for us considering our country has an impressive history in hockey. We are working dedicatedly and hard for another medal," the skipper exclaimed.
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