PM Modi met young sportspersons at his official residence and lauded their efforts.
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met India's Olympians -- P V Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, Dipa Karmakar and others -- at his official residence in Delhi this evening.
On the occasion, he tweeted photographs with individual sportspersons, congratulating them:
The three athletes, along with Shooter Jitu Rai, will receive the Khel Ratna Award in Delhi on Monday.
Earlier today, in his monthly radio address Mann ki Baat, he dwelt on India's performance, saying, "Never before has an Indian Prime Minister been under so much pressure to talk about the Olympics."
But he termed it a "positive development", and lauded the efforts of the women sportspersons for doing the country proud.
He however, pointed out that a lot more needs to be done to promote sports and get medals.
''If we keep doing what we have been doing, we'll be disappointed again ... That's why I've set up an Olympic committee. I appeal to state governments and sports bodies to examine what needs to be done to improve our performance."
He underscored the role parents can play in their regard, saying, "Parents still lay too much emphasis on academics and ignore sports".
He also lauded P Gopichand, ace badminton player and Sindhu's coach, describing him as an example of a "fine teacher".
Earlier in the day, at the Hyderabad's Pullela Gopichand Academy, Sindhu, Sakshi and Dipa, as also badminton national coach Gopichand were handed over a BMW each in the presence of cricket legend Sachin tendulkar.
''It was not Save the Girl Child but Saved by the Girl Child at Rio,'' Mr Gopichand quipped on the occasion.