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The Games are starting from Tuesday.
”It is time for the Paralympics and I would like to appeal to all Indians to get behind our contingent of 54 athletes in Tokyo,” Tendulkar said in a statement on Monday.
According to Tendulkar, the journey of para athletes is an ”eye-opener” to common people that what one can do with passion and determination.
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He said it was important to celebrate every athlete, who would compete at the Paralympics, irrespective of the results.
”I have always believed that if we can celebrate our Paralympic athletes in the very same manner that we celebrate our Olympic heroes and our cricketers, we can become a better society. ”And it is not simply about the medal winners. Not every athlete among the 54 participating in the Paralympics will win a medal. ”However, it is important we celebrate them all. We need to celebrate the process and not simply the outcome. That’s when real change will happen in our sport,” he added.
Tendulkar also hoped that the country wins more medals this time around.
”I have been reading we might win more than 10 medals this time round. I hope we win more. In Rio, we had won four medals. If that goes up to 10 it is a significant upswing that all of us should celebrate. ”Having said that I will watch each athlete with the same interest whether they make it to the podium or not. Each of them are great role models and to see them perform for India and do it all for the tricolour is in itself a great sense of satisfaction for the country.” He was also delighted to see the support the government and corporate houses have extended to para athletes.
”I have been delighted to see India embrace the Paralympics this year, the very welcome initiatives of the government and corporates working in partnership and on their own in different aspects of extending support to our sports persons are all steps in the right direction,” he signed off.