PM hails wrestler Ravi Dahiya for winning silver medal at Olympics

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed wrestler Ravi Dahiya for winning a silver medal at the Olympic Games and said his fighting spirit and tenacity are outstanding.

Dahiya became only the second Indian wrestler to win a silver medal at the Olympic Games after he lost the men’s freestyle 57kg title clash 4-7 to reigning world champion Zavur Uguev in Tokyo.

“Ravi Kumar Dahiya is a remarkable wrestler! His fighting spirit and tenacity are outstanding. Congratulations to him for winning the Silver Medal at #Tokyo2020,” Modi tweeted.

India takes great pride in his accomplishments, he said.

Sources said the prime minister also spoke with Dahiya and his coach Anil Maan.

While congratulating Dahiya, Modi said India is proud of him and that his success inspires the entire nation.

Modi complemented the wrestler for his hard work and also said that he looks forward to personally congratulating him on August 15.

The prime minister will invite India”s Olympic contingent to the Red Fort as special guests on August 15 when he will deliver his eighth straight Independence Day speech.

Modi also lauded the efforts of wrestler Deepak Punia who came agonisingly close to winning a bronze medal on his Olympic debut but conceded a take-down in last 10 seconds of the 86kg play-off against San Marino”s Myles Nazem Amine to miss out on achieving the feat.

“Deepak Punia lost the Bronze narrowly but he has won our hearts. He is a powerhouse of grit and talent. My best wishes to Deepak for his future endeavours,” he tweeted.