New Delhi: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended greetings to sportspersons on the National Sports Day.
Lauding sportspersons who have represented India and made it proud, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said his government is making numerous efforts to popularise sports and support sporting talent in the country.
To mark National Sports Day, he also urged everyone to make sports and fitness exercises a part of their daily routine.
"National Sports Day is a day to celebrate the remarkable achievements of all those exemplary sportspersons who have represented India in various sports and made our nation proud. Their tenacity and determination are outstanding," he said.
The prime minister also paid tribute to Major Dhyan Chand, the legendary hockey player whose birth anniversary is celebrated as National Sports Day, and said his magic with the hockey stick can never be forgotten.
"Government of India is making numerous efforts to popularise sports and support sporting talent in India. At the same time, I urge everyone to make sports and fitness exercises a part of their daily routine. There are many benefits of doing so. May everyone be happy and healthy," he added.
This is also a day to laud the outstanding support given by the families, coaches and support staff towards the success of our talented athletes, Modi said.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu extended his greetings to sportspersons on the National Sports Day and said the pandemic has reinforced the need to be physically fit and mentally strong to fight the coronavirus.
He also paid tributes to hockey maestro and Olympian Dhyan Chand, whose birth anniversary is observed as the National Sports Day.
"My greetings to all sportspersons on National Sports Day. This pandemic has affected normal sporting activities," Naidu said.
He said at the same time, the pandemic has also reinforced the need to be physically fit and mentally strong to fight the coronavirus.
"Let us pledge to make causes like 'Fit India' a people's movement and take up fitness activities from sports and games to yoga to fortify our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health," the vice president said.
PTI
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