NEW DELHI: Anurag Thakur, the Union Minister for Sports, stated on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has authorised Rs 675 crore for the Khelo India initiative and expressed hope that Team India will finish this year’s Asian Games with its highest-ever medal total. The much-awaited official ceremonial dress and playing uniform for the Indian contingent competing at the upcoming 2022 Asian Games, which will take place in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8, were released by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Tuesday. The IOA also held a glitzy send-off event, which was attended by senior officials, famous sprinter PT Usha, and Union Minister for Information, Broadcasting, Youth Affairs, and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur.“In the first 60 years of the World University Games, we had won 18 medals. This time, we have 26 medals under our belt, including 10 gold ones. It’s fantastic news that PM Modi has sanctioned a sum of Rs 675 crore for Khelo India. The budget for sports has tripled during this administration. Like no other leader in the world, Prime Minister Modi inspires his team. Whether you refer to it as Bharat, Hindustan, or India, our athletes will bring honour to the nation, Thakur told the reporters.The Indian team included athletes from several different sports, including the Asian Games shot put gold medalist Tajinderpal Singh Toor, shooting phenomenon Manu Bhaker, and Indian hockey goalkeepers PR Sreejesh (men) and Savita Punia (women). “It is not just a uniform; it is a symbol of pride and identity for our athletes,” said Thakur in his remarks on the occasion. The uniform celebrates India’s independence and highlights its rich cultural heritage and design prowess. As much as the squad will symbolise the youthful and new India, I am optimistic that we will guarantee historic performances and return with the highest medal total. I implore the nation to support and applaud our athletes.Aaquib Wani, a famous Kashmiri designer who previously created the shirt for the Indian cricket team, created the playing uniform. Every athlete wears a bit of their home state onto the pitch thanks to the design, which is influenced by the nation’s diverse artistic expressions and serves as a visual ode to the great diversity and unity that constitutes India. IOA President PT Usha stated that she anticipates each participant to give their best effort to represent India with pride. “We have eagerly anticipated the Asian Games in 2022, and we are pleased that India would send its largest delegation of 634 athletes. We think this team has the ability to give India its biggest medal total as well,” she added.The athlete is at the focus of everything we do at the IOA, and we go to great lengths to make sure they are well taken care of, she continued. Following athletics, rowing will be competing in Hangzhou with a unit that is 33 members large. A 15-person Esports squad will also be present at the Asian Games, where the competition will be making its official debut. In the most recent Asian Games, which were held in 2018, the Indian team won 70 medals, including 16 gold ones, setting a record for most medals ever.
