New Delhi: Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbananda Sonowal here Monday felicitated the medal winners of Asian Games 2014. Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Sonowal congratulated the medal winners for their medal winning performances at Asian Games 2014. India had won 57 medals (11 Gold, 10 Silver and 36 Bronze) at the Asian Games, 2014.

“It is a matter of great pleasure for me to greet our sports heroes once again. After taking over as the Minister for Sports, Government of India, I had the privilege of felicitating the medal winners of CWG Glasgow in the month of August this year. Within two months, another joyous occasion has come – this time to felicitate the Asiad Medal winners. I think, I am lucky twice,” said the sports minister.

“Your achievements are glittering and inspiring, especially considering the high level of competition in many events. In every international competition like this, there can be cases of success and failure and the near misses. Sports is like that. Sports is a great leveller. It teaches us not to get carried away by success; it teaches us not to get disappointed over failures. Treat everything – every success and failure – equally. Those of you who have won the gold should strive hard to retain them and look forward to RIO-2016 and those who got silver and bronze medals should strive to make it gold and should also look forward to RIO-2016,” he said.

“Asiad 2014 has given a fresh breath of life to hockey. The entire country salutes the team. I have full faith in the Indian hockey team and I want you to bring back the Olympic Gold we won last time in 1964 Olympics,” added Sonowal.