In the latest episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the achievements of India’s emerging sprint athletes Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur, who recently set new national records at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition held in Ranchi.

The Prime Minister noted that multiple national records were broken across different events and also mentioned athletes such as Vishal TK, Tejaswin Shankar, Dev Meena, and Kuldeep Kumar for their outstanding performances.He interacted with Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur during the programme, where both athletes shared their sporting journeys and experiences.

Modi emphasised the importance of sportsmanship, encouraging healthy competition that strengthens national pride while also promoting mutual respect among athletes.Beyond sports, the Prime Minister highlighted several social and environmental initiatives across the country.

He spoke about a swimming club in Aluva, Kerala, run by Saji Valasheril, which has trained more than 15,000 people, including specially-abled individuals, in swimming.The initiative was started after a tragic boat accident in the region.

He also praised educator Girija Amma from Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, who manages 15 schools, including institutions in Chennai, contributing significantly to education.

The episode also touched upon seasonal themes, with Modi speaking about the cultural and economic importance of mangoes in India and appreciating farmers engaged in mango cultivation, especially those contributing to exports.

He further underlined environmental conservation, focusing on efforts to protect the endangered Ganga river dolphin and promoting biodiversity preservation.

The introduction of India’s first Ganga dolphin rescue ambulance was also highlighted as a positive step towards wildlife conservation and ecological awareness.