PM Modi Reaffirms India’s 2036 Olympics Hosting Ambition
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met India’s Asian Games medal winners at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi and reiterated the country’s determination to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
Congratulating the athletes, Modi said India was strengthening its position not only through sporting performances but also as a credible host for major international events.
India won 85 medals, including 21 gold, at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, falling short of its previous tally of 106 medals at Hangzhou. However, debutants made a significant contribution, winning 41 medals.
Modi Praises Athletes, Backs 2036 Olympics Bid
Addressing the medal winners, Modi said their achievements had made the country proud and credited them with bringing honour to the national flag.
“India is emerging in establishing itself as a credible and hospitable country for international sports events. We are bidding for 2036 Olympics and it is our resolve that we will host the games,” he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the development of India’s sporting ecosystem over the past 12 years, stressing that success at major events requires sustained effort and dedication.
He said a transparent system was now in place and pointed to India’s growing representation across different sports as evidence of progress.
Women Athletes Make Major Contribution
Modi particularly praised India’s women athletes, who contributed 38 medals, including 11 gold, to the overall tally.
He highlighted the achievements of the women’s cricket and hockey teams, along with the archers, who won five gold medals.
The women’s hockey team’s gold was especially significant, ending a 44-year wait for the title, he said.
The event was attended by both Indian cricket teams that won gold at the Asian Games. The men’s T20 team, led by Shreyas Iyer, and the women’s team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur during the tournament, were present.
Harmanpreet, who recently stepped down as captain, presented Modi with a jersey signed by the gold-winning women’s team. Her successor, Smriti Mandhana, also posed with the Prime Minister.
Medal Winners Present Memorabilia
The athletes presented Modi with several mementoes. Young recurve archer Kumkum Mohod, who won two gold medals and a silver, gifted him a bow.
Golfer Pranavi Urs presented the Prime Minister with her glove and a golf ball in a frame. Modi also posed for photographs with the medal winners, who were accompanied by officials from their respective sporting bodies, including International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah and Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha.
