New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded Harshvardhan Sahu of Odisha, who created two national records in the boys 49-kg class competition at the recent Khelo India Youth Games.
The 16-year-old from Gajapati district had set new records for clean and jerk and total with lifts of 115kg and 203kg respectively after an 88kg lift in snatch. The previous records were set by Jharkhand’s Babulal Hembrom last year.
“Friends, a total of 26 records were made in Khelo India this time. In the Weight Lifting competitions, the brilliant performances of Asmita Dhone of Maharashtra, Harshvardhan Sahu of Odisha and Tushar Chaudhary of Uttar Pradesh won everyone’s heart…,” the PM said during his monthly radio programme “Mann Ki Baat”.
In his first address to the nation post ‘Operation Sindoor’, the Prime Minister also underscored that the entire country is united against terrorism. “Operation Sindoor has ignited a spirit of patriotism among people across India. It has also renewed our people’s quest to be self-reliant,” he said.
He highlighted the valour of the armed forces and success of indigenous weapons during the operation. “Our soldiers destroyed the terror bases; it was their indomitable courage, and it included the power of weapons, equipment, and technology made in India. It also had the resolve of ‘self-reliant India’. The sweat of our engineers, our technicians, and everyone involved in this victory.”