Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to have ice cream with PV Sindhu once she returns from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics next month. The PM told Sindhu about his post-Games plan during a video interaction with Tokyo-bound Indian athletes on Tuesday.
Sindhu had revealed in an interview with India Today that her coach Pullela Gopichand took away her mobile phone and also prohibited her from eating ice cream during the 2016 Rio Olympics.
All of her preparations bore fruit when she became the first badminton player from India to clinch a silver medal at the Games in Brazil.
PM Modi also saw that interview and remembered about what Sindhu spoke about her diet. He then vowed to have ice-cream with the badminton world champion once she comes back from Japan.
PM Modi asked Sindhu how her preparations are going on. To which, the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist said she chose to practice in Gachibowli because the Olympic stadium is big.
The premier jokingly asked Sindhu about her diet restriction and recalled if the chief national coach of the Indian badminton team Pullela Gopichand took away her phone and prohibited her from eating ice cream during the Rio Olympic games.
PM Modi, then, promised to have ice cream with her after the Olympics games. “Work hard and I am confident that you will be successful once again. And when you all come back from the Olympics, I will have ice cream with you,” he said before bursting into laughter.
The Prime Minister also asked him if he has any message for the parents of kids who are hesitant about them playing sports. “I want to say that if kids stay healthy all will be good and sports help in that,” Ramana said.
Addressing the athletes at the end of the hour-long virtual event, Modi said: “I would liked it even more if we had had the opportunity to host you at my residence in New Delhi and interact with you face to face. But unfortunately, it was not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many athletes representing the nation are already abroad for training. But once you return from the Games, I promise to meet all of you personally. Coronavirus has changed everything, including the year of the Olympic Games (from 2020 to 2021) and the way you train. You will encounter a different atmosphere at Tokyo too.”
Calling the athletes a “reflection of new India”, Modi said: “Some of you started your journey from the fields in villages. Others have been part of sports academies since the start. But now all of you represent Team India.”
While urging the athletes not to take pressure on themselves to win, he said: “Looking at you and your energy, I can say confidently that soon winning will be a habit for new India. This is just the start.”
