Bastar youth icon

Karsay Ta Bastar Barsaye Ta: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised the 'Bastar Olympics' while mentioning it in the 117th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'. Baki Mandal, the football player who took part in the 'Bastar Olympics', has expressed happiness over this.

Baki Mandal said, "We are happy to hear that PM Modi said such good things about our 'Bastar Olympics'. We come from a small village and we got a chance to play on a platform like Bastar Olympics, it is a very good thing. We should get a chance every year."

The young player said, "We feel very good that PM Modi often talks about our backward class. He always talks about the Naxalite area Bastar, which is good to hear. Also, PM Modi encourages the players a lot as he had called the T-20 World Cup winning team (India) to his residence and talked to them. PM Modi is often enthusiastic about sports and wants to make the youth inclined towards sports."