Prime Minister- Here, I have been living in this house for about 12-13 years now. If I have regularly and every time received someone, if I have met someone, it is the players. For the last 10-12 years, because of your hard work, because of your efforts to bring continuous victories to India, and because of the tradition of crossing new heights of success, the work that perhaps we could have done by going to schools and saying “play, do this, do that,” your medals inspire them far more.

Prime Minister- You had promised me last time that both your daughters would become players?

Player- Yes sir, they are still young, but in the next Commonwealth Games, three medals will come from one house.

Prime Minister - For sure.

Player - Yes sir.

Player - When I was running, when my event was on the 29th, that day was Guru Purnima. So that day I gave a gift to my Guru.

Prime Minister - You have brought great honor. So many tears were flowing, I felt as if every drop of those tears was turning into a gold medal.

Player - I was very happy, emotional too that day. The happiness was more, and I cried because in the Paris Olympics I had missed a medal by 1 kg. In a player’s life, we face so much. In these four years, I faced so many things - injuries all the time, family problems, everything. It was very difficult to face those four years. And when I stood on the podium, sir, and our flag went up, and our national anthem played, sir, we cannot stop ourselves, tears just come out.

Prime Minister - Very, very good.

Prime Minister - I do not consider this achievement only yours. This victory becomes a great inspiration for future generations.

Player - Everyone was afraid of us, saying that if they fight India, they will lose the first fight itself, and we won’t get a medal.

Prime Minister - So they assumed it.

Player - Yes sir.

Prime Minister - What happened, you were fighting with the restaurant people?

Player - We had such good performances, it was the last day, everyone had won, and all Indians were there. I felt a little bad. So I spoke to them politely, requested them, and then they agreed, and it was changed.

Prime Minister - This situation of victory, happiness, joy, with your companions, when the games are over, the mood of laughter and fun - at such a time, to look at the map and register it, and immediately, not only when medals are given does the nation stand, but from within the nation feels it. I tell you truly, this video is not ordinary. People will remember it for a long time. Even boxers around the world have now begun to fear you.

Player- Certainly sir, everyone was scared. One after another, gold medals kept coming, and in the end it was like an explosion. The way we are getting support, back‑to‑back competitions, it is a big thing. And all our young athletes, many of them have come through the Khelo India scheme, and this is bringing a big change in sports itself.

Prime Minister- If you raise the prestige of Khelo India, prestige will not come just by cutting ribbons. You must play as a small student, a young boy, a young player plays. This will be a big contribution. Because we have to go much further, bring many more medals. On Kargil Vijay Diwas, whose victory was it?

Player - That day was Kargil Day, and the day I fought Pakistan was the same day. I am from the Indian Army, so I had already resolved that I must defeat Pakistan. And I defeated Pakistan 5-0. I dedicated that victory to our Indian Army’s Kargil heroes.

Prime Minister - You must remember this. And since you yourself are from the Army, I truly believe that the emotion you expressed - dedicating your medal to the Kargil victors - added great glory to that victory. And you defeated exactly the one who had to be defeated.

Player - Talking of Pakistan reminds me of an incident, sir. In 2015 World Military Games, my first fight was against Pakistan. The military people called and said, “Don’t lose to Pakistan.” So I won the first round 4-1, the second round 3-2. But both our heads clashed, both got cuts, and we both went to the hospital for stitches. But I won the fight.

Prime Minister - Yes.

Player - After that, both went to the hospital for stitches. Then in 2014, when you first became Prime Minister, our Army coach was Narendra Rana. He thought for a while and then told me, “Brother, can I say something?” I said yes. He said, “Brother, your name is Narendra, your coach’s name is Narendra, your Prime Minister’s name is Narendra. I have started to hate the name Narendra.”

Prime Minister - It is not only that you increased the number of medals. You have prepared a whole generation.

Player - My heart is beating fast, sir.

Prime Minister - Don’t worry.

Player - But…

Prime Minister - If you wish, you will get a medal for speaking too.

Player - In my friend circle, someone used to say that when I advised them for their good, they would ask, “Are you meeting Modi?”

Prime Minister - Yes.

Player - In Haryanvi they would say, “Are you meeting Modi, that he listens to you?” So today I have met you, sir. I can tell them, yes, I met Modi ji.

Player - In the Commonwealth Games I won a silver medal. Then I gave credit to sir. My dream was to win a medal once. But there was no training center. After joining SAI, I trained hard and won a medal. So I happily gave credit to sir, because I improved a lot.

Prime Minister - For me it is a matter of great honor. You worked hard, and you remembered me. I am very grateful, my friend.

Prime Minister - You were practicing in Varanasi, right?

Player - Yes sir.

Prime Minister - How is the stadium?

Player - Sir, it is good. I went there for 10-12 days of training, because I had gone to the temple, so I trained there. And I want to settle there too, because I like Kashi Vishwanath very much, sir.

Prime Minister - You were training in Bhopal, right?

Player - Yes sir.

Prime Minister - Did you go to Ujjain?

Player - Yes sir, I went to Ujjain too.

Prime Minister - Good, near Mahakal also.

Player - Yes sir.

Prime Minister - You went near Kashi Vishwanath once.

Player - Yes sir.

Prime Minister - It is the month of Sawan now.

Player - I will go home and then go there, sir.

Prime Minister - Okay.

Player - SAI has also supported me a lot, sir. Because of that I reached here. And I was also in the Khelo India scheme in 2018, the first Khelo India. I won a silver medal there. I saw you at the opening ceremony. I won a medal there, got the scheme, and reached here, sir.

Prime Minister - Sports arrangements are one thing, but the country wins medals when a sports culture is built in the country. Friends, you have done a great job. You have made the country proud. I congratulate you very much. And believe me, you will be victorious in the future too, and once again we will meet here. Thank you very much. Best wishes.

Prime Minister - This is the third time in a row you have brought a medal for the country.

Player - Thank you sir.

Prime Minister - Many blessings, child.

Player - And thank you so much. I am eating laddoo from sir’s hand. Yesterday was my birthday, so today from sir’s hand…

Prime Minister - Congratulations, wonderful.

Prime Minister - Smile, my friend.

Prime Minister - Whoever plays, will blossom ( Jo Khelega, Wo Khilega).

DISCLAIMER -This is the approximate translation of Prime Minister's Speech. Original Speech was delivered in Hindi.   

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MJPS/SS/VJ/ST