Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Rio 2016 Olympics athletes: ‘Dil jeet ke aao’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi exuded confidence that the Indian contingent would put up a grand show at the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro.

By: TEAM VAIBHAV

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the “Run for Rio” event at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. (Source: PTI)

“Dil Jeet Ke Aao”. These were Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s famous words to the Indian cricket team led by Sourav Ganguly that toured Pakistan in 2004. On Sunday, more than twelve years later, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi used these very words immortalised by Vajpayee in a slightly different context — to cheer India’s Rio-bound Olympic contingent.

Flagging off the “Run to Rio” event at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in the national capital, Modi exuded confidence that the Indian contingent would put up a grand show at the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, which begins on August 5.

“Wherever our athletes go, India is visible not only on the ground but in their conduct as well. I am confident that these players will win hearts with their behaviour during the Games. They will introduce the great Indian heritage to the world,” Modi said. The Prime Minister used the stage to question why babus were being paid a higher daily allowance than the Indian team “that brings glory to the nation.”