Sep 9, 2021, 2:20 PM IST
The Indian para-athletes rocked and rolled during the Tokyo Paralympics, claiming 19 medals, including five golds. Also, it won eight silvers, while one of them came in the javelin throw via Devendra Jhajharia.
On Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted an interaction session with Tokyo's para-athletes, including the medal winners. Jhajharia happened to have interacted with him, as he was elated following the same.
Recalling his interaction with Modi, Jhajharia said, "PM Modi met with all of us at his residence and welcomed us all. We were all delighted upon meeting him. I personally welcomed Modi, and we all lifted a sword where we all had our autographs on it."
ALSO SEE: Narendra Modi interacts with India's Tokyo Paralympic champions
"As I was interacting with him, he first asked me about my daughter, how is she and if I had given her a trip to Gujarat. I told him since time was limited, I could not do so, but I would surely do it soon. He told me that he was taking it as a promise, and I asserted that I would fulfil it," he added.
"It feels good that a country's PM motivates its players in this manner. I still remember, and I told him that back in 2004, I had participated in the Paralympics out of my own pocket money and had even sold the jewellery of my mother. But now, it has all changed, and a new India has arrived. And, in that change, the Indian government has provided the para-athletes with all the facilities," he concluded.
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