President Draupadi Murmu extends support to Indian athletes for Paris Olympics

NEW DELHI: President Draupadi Murmu expressed her support and well-wishes to the Indian athletes participating in the upcoming Paris Olympics during her speech to a joint session of Parliament on Thursday. She also endorsed India's bold ambition to host the Olympic Games in 2036.
In her address, the President highlighted the Modi-led central government's initiatives, which have resulted in Indian athletes achieving unprecedented success and securing a record number of medals in international competitions.
"Due to effective efforts of my Government, young Indian players are winning a record number of medals at global platforms. The Paris Olympics is also going to start in a few days," Murmu said.
"We are proud of every athlete representing India at the Olympics. I convey my best wishes to them. To take these achievements further, the Indian Olympic Association is also preparing to host the 2036 Olympic Games," she added.
India is set to send a strong contingent to the upcoming Paris Olympics, with over 100 athletes having already qualified, including an impressive 21 shooters. The nation will be looking to surpass their best-ever performance of seven medals, which they achieved at the previous Tokyo Olympics.
The highlight of the Tokyo Games for India was undoubtedly Neeraj Chopra's historic gold medal in the javelin throw, marking the country's first-ever Olympic victory in athletics.
Bolstered by the support of International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, India is preparing to submit a bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games. However, the nation will face stiff competition from other strong contenders, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Qatar.
Indian Olympic Association officials will be working diligently to promote the nation's bid during the Paris Games, which are set to commence on July 26. The final decision on the 2036 host will be made following the IOC elections in the coming year.