The Asian Age

PM Modi hosts Thomas Cup winners

‘Yes, we can do it attitude has become the new strength in the country’

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New Delhi, May 22: This is not a small feat, Prime Minister Narnedra Modi said while hosting the victorious Thomas Cup team, players of which were chuffed to get the backing of the country’s premier. Few days after congratula­ting the players over telephone for their historic triumph at the prestigiou­s tournament in Bangkok, PM Modi met in person and interacted with the badminton squad, which also included players from the women’s Uber Cup team.

“I congratula­te the whole team on behalf of the nation. This is not a small feat. You have done it. There was a time when we were so behind in these tournament­s that no one would know here,” said Mr Modi.

During his interactio­n with the champions, an elated PM relived the memory of the historic Thomas

Cup campaign where India clinched gold medal by defeating favourites Indonesia.

Mr Modi said that India team for their efforts and said that people earlier never cared for these tournament­s, but thanks to the Thomas Cup win, the country took notice of the team and the sport of badminton. “The ‘Yes, we can do it’ attitude has become the new strength in the country today. I assure you that the government will give all possible support to our players,” said the Prime Minister.

He congratula­ted senior player Kidambi Srikanth for the manner in which the 29-year-old had shouldered the responsibi­lity of spearheadi­ng the Indian challenge, specially in his final game in the championsh­ip. “I can very proudly say that no other athlete in the world can boast about this, were able to hoist their flag sir. Only we have this privilege in the competitio­n after of talking to you immediatel­y decades and it was not a after winning. First small achievemen­t. of all, thank you so much,

He congratula­ted the sir,” he said.

 ?? — PTI ?? Prime Minister Narendra Modi with badminton player Srikanth Kidambi during the felicitati­on ceremony of the Indian badminton contingent for Thomas and Uber Cup in New Delhi on Sunday.
— PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi with badminton player Srikanth Kidambi during the felicitati­on ceremony of the Indian badminton contingent for Thomas and Uber Cup in New Delhi on Sunday.

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