In the 125th edition of the monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, August 31, praised Rashmita Sahu, a canoeist from Odisha, who won two gold medals at the inaugural Khelo India Water Sports Festival at Dal Lake in Srinagar.
The Prime Minister gave a personal congratulatory call to the athlete, which was aired during the program.
In his radio address, PM Modi noted that more than 800 athletes from all over India participated in the Festival and Rashmita won gold medals in the 200-metre singles and 500-metre doubles events.
“Women athletes were also not far behind… their participation was also almost at par with men. I would like to congratulate all the players who participated in it. Special congratulations to Madhya Pradesh, which won the maximum number of medals, followed by Haryana and Odisha. I deeply appreciate the warmth and hospitality of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and the people there,” the Prime Minister said.
“Rashmita ji, first of all congratulations to you for your success in the world of sports. Rashmita, our listeners are very keen to know about you and your sports journey… I am also very eager… tell me!,” the Prime Minister asked her over the phone call.
To this, Rashmita replied, “Sir, I am Rashmita Sahu… from Odisha. And I am a canoeing player. I joined sports in 2017. I started canoeing and I have participated at the National level, National Championship and National Games. I have 41 medals. 13 Gold, 14 Silver and 14 Bronze Medals, Sir.”
“How did you develop interest in this sport? Who first inspired you towards this? Is there a sports environment in your family?,” the PM questioned the woman athlete from Odisha.
“No sir. The village I come from had no sports. Boating was going on in the river, so I went for swimming. I and my friends were swimming and there was a boat for canoeing-kayaking, I did not know anything about it. So I asked my friend “what is this?” So my friend told me that there is SAI Sports Centre in Jagatpur; sports are organised there, I am also going to go there. I found it very interesting. So what is this, I did not even know, how do kids do this in water? Do boating? I told him that I also wanted to go. How do I go? Tell me also? She told me to go there and talk. Then I immediately went home and said Papa, I want to go, Papa, I have to go. Then Papa said okay; he took me there. There was no trial at that time. Then the coaches said that the trial is held in February, so you should come during the trial in February or March. Then I came during the trial,” Rashmita said in her reply.
During the telephonic conversation, PM Modi then asked Rashmita to share her experience at the water sports festival held in Jammu and Kashmir. “Ok Rashmita, how was your own experience at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival held in Kashmir? You went to Kashmir for the first time?,” he questioned.
“Yes Sir, I went to Kashmir for the first time. Khelo India, First ‘Khelo India Water Sports Festival’ was organized there. I had two events in it. Singles 200 meter and 500 meter doubles. And I have won gold medals in both Sir,” Rashmita answered.
The PM then lauded her, saying, “Oh wow! You won both!….. Many congratulations.”
On being asked about her hobbies apart from water sports, she replied to the PM, “Sir, apart from water sports, I like running the most. Whenever I go on vacation, I go for running. I had learnt to play football at my old field, so whenever I go there, I run a lot and I also play football, a little bit Sir.”
Modi also asked her to convey his regards to her father because he gave so much encouragement to his daughter to move forward amid difficulties. “My best wishes are with you. Thank you,” he said.
Sharing her experience of talking to Modi, Rashmita said, “I was astounded when I got the call from the Prime Minister himself. He (Modi) greeted me, saying Jai Jagannath. It was a very happy moment for me.”
“The phone call lasted about three minutes. When I informed my relatives about it, no one believed me. Today, all are feeling proud,” she said.
Friends, to bring to you the experience of this event, I have thought of talking to two players who participated in it. One of them is Rashmita Sahu from Odisha, and the other is Mohsin Ali from Srinagar. Let us listen to what they have to say: PM @narendramodi #PMonAkashvani pic.twitter.com/4n1FCnaReI
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) August 31, 2025
Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi listened to the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme with locals in Bhubaneswar. Majhi said that the programme has become a source of endless inspiration for crores of people.
ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର ପଟିଆ ଶିଶୁ ବିହାର ପାର୍କରେ ଦଳୀୟ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକର୍ତ୍ତାଙ୍କ ସହିତ ଦେଶର ଯଶସ୍ବୀ ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @narendramodi ଙ୍କ ‘ମନ୍ କି ବାତ୍’ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମର ୧୨୫ ତମ ସଂସ୍କରଣ ଶୁଣିଲି। ଆଜିର ମନ୍ କି ବାତ୍ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମରେ ମାନନୀୟ ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ସ୍ୱଦେଶୀ ଦ୍ରବ୍ୟର ବ୍ୟବହାର କରିବା ଉପରେ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱାରୋପ କରିଛନ୍ତି । ଏହା ସହ… pic.twitter.com/7CT9fhqYpF
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) August 31, 2025
“In today’s Mann Ki Baat program, the Honorable Prime Minister emphasized the use of home-grown products. He congratulated Odia girl and national canoeing player Rashmita Sahu and wished for her well-being. This people-oriented programme of the Prime Minister always binds the people’s representatives and the public in unity and guides them towards building a ‘viksit Bharat’,” the CM said in a post on X.
