This year, Avtar Singh, an Indian judoka participating in the Rio Olympics 2016, and Dipa Karmakar the first Indian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics, have something special in their kit bags as they set out in the quest for an Olympic gold -- the inspiring and motivating words of Abhinav Bindra, India's only Olympic individual gold medallist and one of the goodwill ambassadors for the games.
According to ESPN, last month Bindra sent letters to all Indian athletes who qualified for the Olympics. In the letter, he has asked them to share their thoughts on their achievements and has assured them that he would be happy to help them out with any queries and guide them in any possible way.
Bindra wrote:
"We are in this athletic adventure together and I am proud to be a part of your team," wrote Bindra, who will be making his fifth Olympic appearance this year.
One reason why the Rio Olympics have been in news recently was the appointment of film star Salman Khan by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as one of the the goodwill ambassadors of the Indian contingent.
Bindra and chess Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand have supported IOA's decision as they believe that Khan's massive fan following and 'goodwill' will help the athletes.
According to ESPN, last month Bindra sent letters to all Indian athletes who qualified for the Olympics. In the letter, he has asked them to share their thoughts on their achievements and has assured them that he would be happy to help them out with any queries and guide them in any possible way.
Bindra wrote:
"In over a 100 years of India's Olympic participation, there are not too many men and women like you. I am sure you are excited, impatient and waiting to get stuck into your event and to see how good you are and to show the world just how good you can be."
.@Abhinav_Bindra reaches out to India's Rio #Olympics contingent with letter, boosts moralehttps://t.co/NspmRLpdeI pic.twitter.com/LKHAn9Ejn5
— ESPN India (@ESPNIndia) June 9, 2016
"We are in this athletic adventure together and I am proud to be a part of your team," wrote Bindra, who will be making his fifth Olympic appearance this year.
One reason why the Rio Olympics have been in news recently was the appointment of film star Salman Khan by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as one of the the goodwill ambassadors of the Indian contingent.
Bindra and chess Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand have supported IOA's decision as they believe that Khan's massive fan following and 'goodwill' will help the athletes.
Dear @BeingSalmanKhan , am sure you will use your tremendous goodwill to help Indian Olympic Sport and Olympic athletes (cont..)
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) April 24, 2016