Tokyo 2020 Olympics: PM Modi to meet athletes individually after their return, says Anurag Thakur

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the athletes of the India Olympic-bound contingent individually when they return home.

The Tokyo Olympics will be officially declared open later on Friday as the Opening Ceremony takes place with boxer Mary Kom and men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh as India's flag bearers.

"On behalf of Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on behalf of 130 crore Indians, I would like to wish all the Indian athletes the very best. The good wishes are behind our athletes, this is our largest contingent where 127 athletes are participating. There is no pressure on them, they should play with a free mind, win more medals and we can see high enthusiasm throughout the country," Thakur told reporters on Friday.

With the Olympics Opening Ceremony all set to get underway, Sports Minister @ianuragthakur gets into the ‘sporting’ spirit in the presence of our champions. @DuttYogi @kmmalleswari and @Akhilkumarboxer #Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/qf70J4RVVZ

— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) July 23, 2021

"When athletes return, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he will meet them individually. The Prime Minister will meet our Paralympians as well," he added.

Twenty-five members from the Indian contingent will attend the Opening Ceremony to be held on Friday at the National Stadium amid the COVID-19 concerns in the Japanese capital.

Ankita Raina has been added to the list of players who will attend the event on Friday evening while Manika Batra and Sharath Kamal from the Table Tennis team will not attend the ceremony, IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta confirmed on Twitter.

Amit, Ashish Kumar, Mary Kom are among the eight boxers who will be present at the function along with six Indian officials.