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It's selfie time as PM gives Rio-bound athletes warm send off

Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, however, looked overwhelmed by PM's gesture. "It was great gesture of our Hon'ble Prime Minister to wish athletes personally for Rio Games," he said after the meeting.

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Prime minister Narendra Modi poses with Rio-bound athletes at the send-off ceremony in New Delhi on Monday
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A number of Rio-bound athletes including had the chance to click selfie with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Indian contingent send-off ceremony at the Manekshaw Centre here on Monday.

In fact, Modi didn't disappoint any of the 60 athletes who were present on the occasion and individually obliged each of them with a selfie. Notable athletes who had a chance to met the PM included shooters Jitu Rai, Manavjit Singh Sandhu, Heena Sidhu and Gagan Narang, shuttlers PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth, long-distance runners Sudha Singh and Lalita Babar.

The enthusiasm amongst the athletes was such that almost everyone was only talking about PM's meeting even after the event. India's lone individual Olympic gold medallist Bindra, who was not present on the occasion, thanked PM for showing this special gesture in his tweet. "For the first time ever there is a send-off by the @PMOIndia @narendramodi for the Olympic Team. What a great gesture.#respect."

Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, however, looked overwhelmed by PM's gesture. "It was great gesture of our Hon'ble Prime Minister to wish athletes personally for Rio Games," he said after the meeting.

Two-time World Championship bronze medallist shuttler Sindhu called the meeting motivating. "Meeting our PM was motivating and encouraging. In badminton, we hope to bring at least two medals," she said.

The dignitaries who attended the function included sports minister Jitendra Singh, sports secretary Rajiv Yadav, All India Council of Sports (AICS) chairman Vijay Malhotra, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N Ramachandran, secretary general Rajeev Mehta, Hockey India president Narinder Batra and HI secretary Mohammed Mushtaq Ahmed.

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