International Olympic Day: Deputy Minister Ajit Pawar Congratulates Athletes Representing India At Tokyo Olympics
Mumbai/Pune, June 23, 2021: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and President of Maharashtra Olympic Association Ajit Pawar on Wednesday appealed to inculcate sports culture in cities and villages across the State to prepare a large number of Olympic medal-winning athletes in Maharashtra. Expressing confidence that the athletes from Maharashtra representing in the Tokyo Olympics would return home after winning medals for the country, the deputy chief minister wished the Indian Olympics team success.
On the occasion of International Olympic Day, the Maharashtra Olympic Association organised ‘Olympic Day 2021’ at Deccan Gymkhana in Pune on Wednesday. Deputy Chief Minister and President of Maharashtra Olympic Association Ajit Pawar attended the event online.
Sports Commissioner Omprakash Bakoria, General Secretary of Maharashtra Olympic Association Balasaheb Landge, office bearers Prakash Tulpule, Namdev Shirgaonkar, Sundar Iyer, Dhananjay Bhosale, Dayanand Kumar and others representing India in Olympic and international competitions as well as a large number of emerging athletes, sports activists and sportspersons were present for the event.
Athletes selected for Tokyo Olympics Rahi Sarnobat (shooting), Tejaswini Sawant (shooting), Pravin Jadhav (archery), Avinash Sable (athletics), Chirag Shetty (badminton), Swaroop Unhalkar (para shooting), and Suyash Jadhav (para-swimming) were also felicitated online.
While celebrating International Olympic Day on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar remembered Khashaba Jadhav, a wrestler who won the country’s first individual Olympic medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, “Maharashtra’s ‘son’, wrestler Khashaba Jadhav, won the country’s first individual Olympic medal. Seven athletes from Maharashtra are participating in the Olympics that will be held in Japan in July. The State government stands by the players,” Pawar said.
He expressed confidence that Maharashtra’s athletes would win medals for the country by performing well in the Tokyo Olympics. “Athletes, coaches, managers, the entire team should take care to avoid coronavirus (COVID-19) infection as they go about winning medals at the Tokyo Olympics. Although the number of COVID-19 cases is low in Japan, players from many countries will come there. Therefore, every player of the Indian team and support team members should take care of themselves and their teammates,” the deputy chief minister added.
“Whether it is the World Olympic Association or the Maharashtra Olympic Association, sports organizations and sports activists in the State and the country are trying to inculcate the spirit of unity, equality, brotherhood, and sportsmanship in the society through sports and create a cultured, strong, and a healthy society,” he further said.
Expressing gratitude for the service by sportspersons in the State, President of Maharashtra Olympic Association Ajit Pawar congratulated the sportspersons and sports activists on the occasion of International Olympic Day.
