Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi accumulates praise at Hoki Odisha’s own star, Birendra Lakra, who recently expressed his desire to retire from an international format of sports after playing 201 matches.
In a last letter to the Lakra, which was distributed by hockey on his Facebook page on Saturday, the Prime Minister praised the Lakra as an important part of the vital decade for Indian hockey.
“You start playing hockey when there are no Indians who can imagine our nation will win the Olympic medal in the near future.
Hockey is not considered the most glamorous sport.
However, everything changes so fast and credit for such a positive transformation.
Go to the player Like you, who keep faith and work for the regeneration of Indian hockey, “Modi wrote in his letter.
Stating that the generation of athletes who will come can study the spirit of resilience from Lakra, the prime minister then wrote even though through the pain lost the bus to the Rio Olympics in 2016 due to injury, the lakra managed to overcome it and made it to Tokyo, thus becoming part of the history written there.
PM also praised the Sundargarh boy because he remained humble despite reducing the height of success and continuing the Hulia Odisha tradition produced extraordinary hockey players.
Even though the Lakra’s decision to hang up, Modi said the Lakra would remain connected with hockey and push the upcoming harvest.
Looking for his support to strengthen Amrit Mahotsav India, Prime Minister asked the Lakra to visit various schools in August 2023 to spread awareness about malnutrition and encourage sports.