Sports fraternity welcomes Rathore’s appointment

Abhinav Bindra, Mary Kom, Dipa Karmakar and other congratulated the new sports minister on Twitter.

Rajyavardhan Rathore won the Olympic silver in 2004.

The country’s sports fraternity welcomed the appointment of Olympics silver medallist shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore as the new sports minister and wished him the best for his new stint.

Rathore, who won a silver in double trap event in 2004 Athens Olympics, replaced Vijay Goel as the sports minister . He was earlier the minister of state in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Fellow shooter and India’s lone individual Olympics gold medallist Abhinav Bindra was delighted at Rathore being made the sports minister. “Delighted to see @Ra_THORe is the new sports minister. All the very very best!,” said Bindra, who won a gold in 10m air rifle at the 2008 Beijing Games, in a tweet.

‘Congratulations’

Fellow shooter and London Olympic bronze medallist Gagan Narang wrote, “@Ra_THORe your elevation raises hope because you have been there, done that & know what an athlete is made of. Heartiest Congratulations.”

Delighted to see @Ra_THORe is the new sports minister . All the very very best !

— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) September 3, 2017

London Olympics bronze medallist boxer Mary Kom congratulated Rathore and wished him success in his new role. “I wish to congratulate @Ra_THORe on your new new role and I wish you every success in your new duties,” Mary Kom, also a Rajya Sabha member, wrote.

I wish to congratulate @Ra_THORe on your new new role and I wish you every success in your new duties.#CabinetReshuffle

— Mary Kom (@MangteC) September 3, 2017

 

Rajiv Khel Ratna awardee paralympian Devendra Jhajharia tweeted, “Thank you @VijayGoelBJP ji for all your support. Many congratulations to @Ra_THORe ji. Look forward to achieving sporting excellence.”

‘Good choice’

Star gymnast Dipa Karmakar wrote, “Many congratulations on the new role @Ra_THORe sir! All the very best!”

Congrats Rajyavardhan Rathore for getting the charge of Sports Ministry!
Can't say the same about others-But @Ra_THORe is a good choice! pic.twitter.com/BmB3S0RFxu

— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) September 3, 2017

 

Former sports minister Ajay Maken also congratulated Rathore and said he was the right man for the ministry. “Congrats Rajyavardhan Rathore for getting the charge of Sports Ministry! Can’t say the same about others - But @Ra_THORe is a good choice!”

An inspirational Olympic medal winner as our new Sports Minister. Good times ahead for Indian sport. Congratulations @Ra_THORe

— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) September 3, 2017

 

Former Indian hockey captain Viren Rasquinha described Rathore’s appointment as a good development for Indian sports. “An inspirational Olympic medal winner as our new Sports Minister. Good times ahead for Indian sport. Congratulations @Ra_THORe,” tweeted Rasquinha. Olympian shooter Joydeep Karmakar said: “extremely delighted to have one of ‘us’ leading the Sports Ministry. Looking forward..@Ra_THORe.”