New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi caught up with India’s sprint kings Animesh Kujur and Gurindervir Singh during the 134th episode of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday.
Lauding all five athletes who rewrote national records in different events at the recent Federation Cup meet in Ranchi, the Prime Minister made special mention of Odisha athlete Animesh and Gurindervir, who broke the Men’s 100m record thrice in two days.
It was Animesh who went into the championship as 100m record-holder, but Gurindervir erased the former’s mark of 10.18 seconds with a 10.17 run in the first heat. Minutes later, Animesh reclaimed the record with a run of 10.15 in the second heat. In the final the day after, Gurindervir sped to victory in 10.09 seconds, becoming the first Indian to go below 10.10.
Connecting with them over phone, Modi hailed their ‘amazing’ achievement and described it as a ‘jugalbandi where one person throws a challenge and the other takes it up.’
“Yours has been a very interesting subject. I want that the listeners of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ should know… they should have knowledge about you people. They should know about the feat you have achieved,” Modi told the duo.
Animesh and Gurindervir introduced themselves to the listeners and spoke about their journey.
Animesh said his father had encouraged him all the way and assured him that he will get every king of support and all facilities in his quest to become a top sprinter.
“Just work hard and show India that Indians can also run, my father told me… People used to tell me that the genes of Indians are not such that they can run sub-10 or sub 10.1… but now both of us have proved that Indians can also do it. Nothing is hard for us, we can also do everything. So Sir, all these things motivate me a lot and as we are training, we are breaking our timings and other Indians are also seeing this thing that Indians can also do it… and we will do more Sir, and now both of us have been selected for the Commonwealth Games as well, so we will perform even better in the upcoming competition there,” Animesh told the PM.
Modi was curious to know how they were good friends despite being rivals.
“Sir ji, the first record was 10.18, which was mine only, and then Gurindervir bhaiya broke it in the semifinal by doing 10.17, and I broke it again in the second semifinal by doing 10.15. At that time, when my semifinal happened, we both were happy that yes, it’s okay, today the record was broken, and we both did it, because at that time there is rivalry in the competition, but we both were already determined. Before that we had gone to Saudi Arabia to compete, and we were roommates there too, so we both used to talk there that we have to take Indian sprinting forward and it is in our hands, whatever we do will motivate others,” said Animesh.
Gurindervir told the PM that both of them just decided that they will run well. “So whenever Sir we need each other, we stand with each other… if we help each other then the other also improves, we also improve. So friendship is also needed. When we are outside the ground, outside the competition, we are friends, and when we go on the ground, we become competitors against each other.”
Modi wished both of them well and told them he was confident they would bring glory to the country.
“Do continue to work hard just like this and make great progress. My best wishes to you,” Modi concluded.
