Mumbai/Goa, 28 July 2022
As Commonwealth Games 2022 begins today in Birmingham, England, the Press Information Bureau (Western Region) today organized a webinar, exploring Opportunities and Challenges before Indian Athletes. Sports Journalist Vinayak Rane, Freelance Sports Journalist Shailesh Patil and Prajna Jambhekar were the panelists for discussion.
Additional Director General (Western Region), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Smt. Smita Vats Sharma said that Indians have a special enthusiasm for the Commonwealth Games. She added that sports events connect countries. “There are no words to describe the moment of pride when an athlete walks up to the podium after winning a medal.”
Journalist Shailesh Patil expressed the belief that India has good prospects in Table Tennis and Para Table Tennis this year. The Wrestlers will also contribute in good number as India has shown very much improvement in wrestling, he added.
After 24 years, cricket has been included in the Commonwealth Games and for the first time, women’s cricket is part of the Games. Sports journalist Vinayak Rane said that the Indian women cricketers’ recent performance at the international level and the experience gained from playing in the Big Bash tournament in Australia will definitely show in their performance at the CWG.
Prajna Jambhekar highlighted the performance of Maharashtrian Athletes. She said that there are high expectations from Avinash Sable in the steeplechase athlete category. As the tournament is being held in Birmingham, the support for the Indian athletes will be good, it will help as a morale booster for the players, she added.
Samarjit Thakur of the Press Information Bureau, Goa highlighted the benefits of the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) and To the Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), schemes of the Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. Assistant Director, PIB Mumbai, Smt. Jayadevi Pujari Swamy coordinated and proposed vote of thanks while Ms. Shilpa Pophale of CBC, Pune moderated the webinar.
Webinar Link:
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PIB Mumbai | DJM/S.Thakur/D.Rane
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