International Olympic Day: Sushil Kumar, Dipa Karmakar, Saina Nehwal share memories they had at the games
As the world of athletes celebrate International Olympic Day, Indian sports stars Sushil Kumar, Dipa Karmakar, and Saina Nehwal took to Twitter to share their medal-winning memories at the showpiece event.
International Olympic Day , Twitter
As the world of athletes celebrate International Olympic Day, Indian sports stars Sushil Kumar, Dipa Karmakar, and Saina Nehwal took to Twitter to share their medal-winning memories at the showpiece event.
Wrestler Kumar said that his life changed with the Olympic medal in 2008, while history was created with another medal in 2012. Kumar won a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics, and a silver in the 2012 event.
"My life changed with the Olympic medal in 2008 and history was created by the second one in 2012. Working hard to change the colour of the medal once again. Need your blessings," Kumar tweeted.
Shuttler Saina Nehwal also said that the bronze medal-winning moment in 2012 was very special.
"Very very very special moment in my career when I achieved the Olympic bronze medal in 2012 Olympics.. #London. It was always my and my parent`s dream from the day I joined badminton in 1999. Hard work, belief, and some sacrifices made it possible," Nehwal tweeted.
As for gymnast Karmarkar, she shared a photo and recalled the 2016 Rio Olympics and said its closest to her heart. She tweeted: "Rio Olympics 2016. This one is closest to my heart! Smiling face with 3 hearts #InternationalOlympicDay".
Olympic Day is celebrated on June 23 every year since 1948 to commemorate the initiation of the modern Olympic Games.
On Monday, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Dhruv Batra urged the country`s Olympic medalists and Olympians to lead the celebrations of Olympic Day on June 23, while expressing hope that India transits from a sports-watching nation to more of an active sports-participating nation.
Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports have also been vocal for making India a sporting powerhouse. He has repeatedly emphasised the need to make India enter the top ten medal-winning countries by the 2028 Olympics.
Tokyo Olympics were slated to be held in July-August this year, but the event has been postponed to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.