PM Modi hosts Thomas Cup champs, says ‘This is not a small feat’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (May 22) hosted the Indian men’s badminton team which won the Thomas Cup for the first time.

Last Sunday, on May 15, India defeated 14-time champion Indonesia 3-0 in the final to script history in Bangkok, Thailand. After the win, PM Modi had spoken to the players by phone.

Also read: Thomas Cup win bigger than 1983 World Cup for badminton: Gopichand

On Sunday, PM Modi interacted with Thomas Cup and also the women’s badminton team that participated in the Uber Cup. The players talked about different aspects of their game, life beyond badminton and more.

“On behalf of the entire country I congratulate you and your entire team as after decades, the Indian flag has been firmly planted. This not a small feat… Keeping the nerve and team together under tremendous pressure is something that I can understand very well. I congratulated you on phone but now I am feeling the joy of complimenting you in person,” PM Modi told Kidambi Srikanth.

‘India is proud’

On Twitter, Modi shared the video of the interaction and captioned it, “Interacted with our badminton champions, who shared their experiences from the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup. The players talked about different aspects of their game, life beyond badminton and more. India is proud of their accomplishments.”

Interacted with our badminton champions, who shared their experiences from the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup. The players talked about different aspects of their game, life beyond badminton and more. India is proud of their accomplishments. https://t.co/sz1FrRTub8

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 22, 2022

Srikanth talked about the great feeling among the players about being recognised by the Prime Minister in such a proud way. PM Modi asked the team captain about his leadership style and challenges.

Also read: Can Thomas Cup coup be the 1983 moment for Indian badminton?

Srikanth told that individually, everyone was performing great and the task was to bring out their best as a team. He also expressed his happiness over the privilege of playing the crucial deciding match.

On being asked by Modi about his world No. 1 ranking and gold in Thomas Cup, the ace shuttler said that both the milestones were his dreams and he is delighted to have achieved them.

Modi said that due to not-so-great performances in earlier years, the Thomas cup was not very much talked about and he said it took some time in the country to sink in the enormity of the achievement of this team.

He said “I can do it” is the mood of “New India”. More than bothering about the competition, it is important to focus on one’s own performance, he added.

‘Golden chapter’

PM Modi said now the pressure of expectation will increase which is alright and they should not cave in under the pressure of the expectations of the country. “We need to convert pressure into energy. We should treat it as encouragement,” he said.

In the last 7-8 years, the PM pointed out that Indian players have created new records. He noted the sterling performances in Olympics, Paralympics and Deaflympics. Today, mindset is changing with regard to sports, he said. A new atmosphere is coming up.

Also read: Thomas Cup victory was no coup per se; it was foretold

“This is like a golden chapter in India’s sporting history and champions like you and players of your generation are the authors of this. We need to keep this momentum going,” the PM said while assuring the athletes of the country all the support.

Doubles player Satwiksairaj Rankireddy recalled the memorable support that he got from the team and support staff. He said that the team is still re-living the moments of victory. Rankireddy’s partner Chirag Shetty also narrated his journey of the tournament and recalled coming to the PM’s residence with the Olympic contingent.

Modi said that he noted the disappointment among few players when some of them could not win a medal at the Olympics. However, he also recalled that the players were determined and now they have proved all the expectations correct.

“One defeat is not the end, one needs determination and passion in life. Victory is natural outcome for such people, you have shown that,” he said.

He told the team that it will win many more medals in the course of time. The players have to play a lot and bloom (khelna bhi hai khilna bhi hai) and have to take the country into the world of sports. “Now India can’t lag behind. Your victories are inspiring the generations for sports,” Modi added.

‘Bal Mithai’

He thanked Lakshya Sen for bringing ‘Bal Mithai’ as promised during the telephone call immediately after the victory. Lakshya recalled that he earlier met the PM after winning in Youth Olympics and now after the Thomas Cup win.

Sen said that players feel deeply motivated after such meetings. “I want to keep winning medals for India and keep meeting you like this,” Sen said.

PM Sh @narendramodi ji interacted with India’s badminton champions, who shared their journey and experiences from playing the sport.

The athletes shared candid moments and thanked the PM for his enthusiastic support at every stage. Here’s wishing them the very best ahead ! pic.twitter.com/YywI26EwNY

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) May 22, 2022

HS Prannoy said that this is even a more proud moment as the team could win the prestigious tournament in the 75th year of India’s independence. He said that pressure was immense in the quarter-final and semi-final and he was happy that that could be overcome due to the support of the team.

“Whosoever understands badminton, must have dreamt about this, a dream that has been fulfilled by you. Such successes inject great energy and confidence in the entire sporting ecosystem of the country. Your victory has done something that cannot be accomplished by greatest of the coaches or the oratory of the leaders,” Modi said.

Referring to the Uber Cup, Modi said, “Our women team has shown their time and again their class. It is just a matter of time, if not this time, next time we will surely win.”