Lakshya Sen revealed how his phone was taken away by strict coach Prakash Padukone, hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh talked about his team’s thrilling run while everyone shared a good laugh on the air conditioning woes in Paris when Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a reception for the Indian contingent after its fairly decent Olympic campaign.
The Prime Minister hosted the contingent after the Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort, where too the athletes were in attendance on Thursday. The video of the interaction was shared by Modi and the athletes could be seen having one-on-one chats with the PM.
In one such conversation with Lakshya, who finished fourth in the men’s singles badminton competition, Modi said: “When I met Lakshya for the first time, he was very small but now he has grown up. Do you know, this time you have become a celebrity?
To this, Lakshya replied: “Yes sir. But during matches Prakash Sir took my phone and told me till the matches are over, you won’t get your phone. But after that I got to know the support I got.
“It was a learning experience and little heart-breaking as well because I came so close,” said the 22-year-old who lost from a position of strength in the bronze playoff.
A laughing Modi instantly said: “Prakash Sir was so disciplined and strict, I will send him the next time as well.”
The Paris Olympics were promoted as eco-friendly Games. So, there were no air conditioners in any rooms in the Games village, forcing the sports ministry to dispatch 40 portable ACs on an urgent basis for their comfortable stay.
A laughing Modi asked all the athletes who all cursed him for the situation, to which no one replied.
“There were no ACs and it was hot as well, so I want to know which of you cried first saying ‘Modi speaks big but there are no ACs in rooms so what should we do’,” Modi said.
“Who all are there who faced most difficulties. But then I learnt that within few hours that work also was done. See, how we try to provide you the best of facilities,” the Prime Minister added.
Modi also had a light-hearted chat with Harmanpreet, who opened up on how the team fought back after being down to 10 men for more than 40 minutes in the quarterfinal against Great Britain.
“Just tell me when you to fight with 10-men against Britain, you must have been demoralised from the start, Sarpanch saab, please tell, it was very difficult,” Modi asked the India captain, addressing him with his nickname.
Harmanpreet replied: “Yes Sir, it was very difficult because we got the red card in the first quarter but our coaching staff helped us a lot. We visualised every situation because in Olympics anything can happen. The motivation of the team also increased because we have a rivalry with GB (Britain).”
Modi interrupted and laughingly said: “It has been going on for the last 150 years.”
Harmanpreet said: “We fought and ended the match 1-1 and won it in shoot-out. It never ever happened in Olympics history (playing with 10 men for 42 minutes and then winning).” (PTI)
