New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Indian contingent returning from the Paris Olympics at his official residence in New Delhi on Thursday, celebrating their impressive performance of securing six medals—Indias second-best showing at the Summer Games.Among the athletes present was shooter Manu Bhaker, who made history as the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympics. During their interaction, Bhaker, who won two bronze medals, demonstrated her pistol to the Prime Minister. Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kusale, the other medal-winning shooters, also engaged with Modi. Singh paired with Bhaker to clinch bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed event, while Kusale took bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions.VIDEO | PM Modi (@narendramodi) meets Indian Olympic contingent at his residence in Delhi.(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/K2Gb5dzaCL— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 15, 2024Indian Hockey at the center stage The Indian mens hockey team, which secured its second consecutive Olympic bronze, presented Modi with a hockey stick signed by all the players and a jersey as a memento. Wrestler Aman Sehrawat, who won bronze in the mens freestyle 57kg category, also gifted a signed India jersey to the Prime Minister.Neeraj Chopra, the silver medallist in javelin, missed the event as he is currently in Germany consulting with doctors about his groin injury and planning his participation in upcoming Diamond League events in Europe. “It was a delight to interact with the Indian contingent that represented our nation in the Paris Olympics. Heard their experiences from the games and lauded their feats on the sports field,” Modi posted on X.Earlier, the medalists were honored as special guests at the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, where Modi congratulated them during his address. “We are making efforts to host the 2036 Olympics,” Modi stated, expressing Indias ambitions to bring the global event home.
