Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian national football team goalkeeper Subrata Paul. (Photo courtesy: Narendra Modi via Twitter)
On the brink of receiving the prestigious Arjuna Award from the President of India Pranab Mukherjee, Subrata Paul got overwhelmed when none other than Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to meet all the 2016 Arjuna awardees.
Narendra Modi, who has shown his keenness towards sports many a time, has tweeted yesterday evening, “Ace footballer Subrata Paul & I had a good conversation. Congratulated this youngster & wished him the very best.” Undoubtedly those words will boost more adrenalin for ‘The Spiderman’ who has already donned the National colours 64 times.
Subrata Paul sounded quite ecstatic while speaking to AIFF Media, “It’s not every day that one gets to meet the Prime Minister of the Country. I was very moved by his gesture of meeting all the sports persons.”
He also added more corroborating Modi’s passion towards sports, “He’s a sports enthusiast and his encouragement motivated me further. I would like to thank him for all the encouraging words.”
Having received the Arjuna Award on the auspicious occasion of National Sports Day (August 29, 2016), Subrata Paul will immediately head to Mumbai to join the Stephen Constantine-coached India who are on the cusp of locking their horns with 114-ranked Puerto Rico on September 3, 2016 at the Andheri Sports Complex.
(Report courtesy: AIFF Media / Photo courtesy: Narendra Modi via Twitter)