PM Modi gives pep talk to CWG-bound India athletes: ‘Koi Nahi Hai Takkar Mei’

• Shubham
• 20 July, 2022

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By: Shubham Ghosh

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (20) interacted with the country’s athletes who are set to participate in the upcoming Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham, the UK, starting July 28.

Modi, who has a knack of encouraging Indian sportspersons before and after they compete at the international level, told India’s CWG 2022 squad to play well without any stress.

“Play well with all your strengths, without stress. You must have heard the saying ‘Koi Nahi Hai Takkar mei, Kyun Pade Ho Chakkar Mei’ (when nobody can challenge you, why take the stress?), so play with the same attitude at the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

The Indian Olympic Association has named a 322-member strong contingent for the upcoming sporting event. The squad includes 215 athletes and 107 officials and support staff members.

The upcoming games, which will be the 22nd edition, will take place till August 8.

India did well to finish third behind England and Australia in the previous edition which was played in Gold Coast, Australia. The South Asian nation finished with 66 medals that included 26 golds, 20 silvers and as many bronzes.

Overall at the CWG, India are the fourth most successful team in terms of gold medals. They have 181 of them besides 173 silvers a d 149 bronzes. Only Australia, England and Canada have won more golds than India.

IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta said, “We are sending one of our strongest squads ever to the CWG, and even with a strong sport for us like shooting not being there, we are confident of bettering our performance from the last edition.

“Make no mistake, the competition will be world-class and fierce but our athletes have prepared well and are fit and raring to go. We wish them all the very best,” IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta was quoted as saying.”

While the athletes at the Birmingham event will be staying in five different “villages”, the women’s cricket team will stay in a separate facility at Birmingham city centre.

The women’s cricket tournament was included in the CWG this year and it will be the first time that the sport will feature in the tournament since 1998 when a List A men’s tournament was held.