PM Modi congratulates Indian contingent, expresses gratitude to Brazil for hosting 'memorable' Olympics

New Delhi, Aug. 22 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated the Indian contingent, which participated in the Rio Olympics, and expressed gratitude to Brazil for hosting people from across the world and organising 'a memorable Olympic Games'. "Spectacular #ClosingCeremony for #Rio2016. I congratulate all athletes who took part in the games. @Olympics. Want to specially wish the Indian contingent at #Rio2016. Every athlete gave his or her best," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. "Special gratitude to the host nation, Brazil for hosting people from across the world & organising a memorable #OlympicGames," he added. India, which had sent its largest-ever contingent of 119 athletes in the Rio Olympics, ended their campaign at the prestigious quadrennial event with two medals-a silver and a bronze here on Sunday. It was after eleven days of agonising wait when wrestler Sakshi Malik finally broke India's medal drought by clinching bronze in woman 58kg category wrestling event. Just two days after India opened their account, ace shuttler P V Sindhu scripted history by becoming country's first woman athlete to clinch an Olympic silver medal. Although Sindhu missed out on gold, she displayed a superb fighting spirit against Spaniard world number one Carolina Marin throughout the summit showdown match to earn India's second medal in Rio Games. Sindhu has now become the second Indian player in badminton to win an Olympic medal after Saina Nehwal, who had clinched bronze in London four years ago. In 2012, India had secured their highest medal tally from a single Games i.e six, without gold and there were pre-Games projections by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) that the tally will be doubled this time, given the highest-ever contingent of the country going in Rio de Janeiro. However, all those assumptions were dashed and India ended up saving their image at the hands of two women, Sakshi and Sindhu, who were never seen as medal hopes. Another athlete, who became the redeem for the country in the Rio Olympics, was lone gymnast Dipa Karamakar. Although the 23-year-old debutant from Tripura missed a bronze medal by a whisker, she managed to perform Tsukahara (14.866) in her first attempt before successfully executing dangerous Produnova vault (15.266) in her second attempt in the women's individual vault final at the Rio Olympics. (ANI)