India’s Olympic contingent to brighten up 75th Independence Day celebrations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will invite India’s entire Tokyo
Olympics contingent to the Red Fort for Independence Day celebrations on August
15, according to media reports.

The prime minister will meet with athletes and
interact with them and is also slated to invite them back to his residence
following the event.

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India’s Olympic contingent is returning from Tokyo with the
highest medal tally ever, a total of seven.

On Saturday, a lot of records were
broken with Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal, becoming
the first Indian to win a gold medal in athletics and the second India to win a
gold medal in an individual sport.

Following Neeraj’s gold medal win, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi called him up and congratulated him. The prime minister had also spoken to
India’s men’s hockey team captain, Manpreet Singh, after the team beat Germany
to win bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.

India’s seven medals came with Neeraj Chopra, Bajrang
Puniya, Indian men’s hockey team, Ravi Dahiya, PV Sindhu, Lovelina Borgohain
and Mirabai Chanu.

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Prime Minister Modi has been closely following the
developments in Tokyo Olympics. He has said that the athletes are a reflection
of new India and that all possible help has been extended to them through the
government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).

“Don’t be bogged down by expectations, just give your best.
I would have been happier to meet you in person, I always look forward to that.
But I promise to spend time with you after you come back. I am happy that
country is cheering for you. I wish all the luck to you. The whole country’s
emotions are attached to you,” the prime minister had told young athletes before
they set out for Tokyo.

Now, keeping true to his promise, PM Modi has invited them as
special guests to India’s 75th Independence Day celebrations.