You are all achievers: PM Modi to India's Paris Olympians

New Delhi, Aug 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his interaction with the Indian Olympic contingent, which returned from the Paris Games with six medals, gave them a pep talk, saying that sports is the one field where no one ever truly loses and everyone learns, and they are all achievers.

"First of all, remove the thought from your mind that you have returned to India after losing the Olympics. You have returned with the country's flag held high. You have also gained some valuable experience, and sports is the one field, my friends, where no one ever truly loses; everyone learns," PM Modi said during a conversation with the sportspersons at his residence on Thursday.

"The world has seen what you did on the field. Now, tell me what you did off the field. You must have made friends with athletes from around the world and learned a lot," the PM told them

"Maybe you thought, it would be great if we also had something like this in our country as well...," the PM said.

PM Modi shook hands with players and praised India's youngest Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat, shooters Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kusale and members of the Indian men's hockey team among others.

The Prime Minister also clicked pictures with the athletes during the event.

Hockey veteran P.R. Sreejesh, captain Harmanpreet Singh and Aman gifted India jerseys and hockey to PM Modi during their meeting.

A total of 117 Indian athletes participated across 16 sports at the Paris Games -- archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, equestrian, golf, hockey, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, wrestling, table tennis, and tennis.