NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with Paralympics-bound Indian athletes on August 17 at 11 am via a virtual conference.
The Tokyo Paralympic Games are scheduled to be held between August 24 and September 5. India will start its campaign on August 27 with men's and women's archery events.
A record number of 54 athletes in nine different sports categories will participate in the Tokyo Paralympics.
Earlier this week, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), Anurag Thakur, said the medal winners in the upcoming Tokyo Paralympics will be rewarded at this year's National Sports Awards.
In July, MYAS had planned to postpone the awards for a couple of weeks to include possible medallists from the Tokyo Olympics.
Thakur said they are expecting a good show in the upcoming Paralympics as well, just as the Indian contingent rose to the challenge in the Tokyo Olympics by winning seven medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze).
Coming back to the Paralympics, Thangavelu Mariyappan, Rio 2016 gold medal winner, will be the flag-bearer of the India contingent at the opening ceremony, while Gursharan Singh will be the Chef de Mission.
In July, PM Modi had also interacted with the Indian athletes' bound for Tokyo Olympics.
Prime Minister Modi had also discussed the inspirational journeys of some of the athletes on Mann Ki Baat, besides urging the nation to come forward and wholeheartedly support the players.
