New Delhi, June 13: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today met taekwondo experts Pradipta Kumar Roy and Ruma Roy Choudhury, who were included in the international 'Taekwondo Hall of Fame' on April 10 this year.
Pradipta and Ruma became the only Indians to make it to the list in any Olympic sports when they were conferred the honour along with 11 other taekwondo players in New Jersey.
The duo had a half-an-hour meeting with the Prime Minister in his office.
"The Prime Minister congratulated us and appreciated our endeavour. We feel honoured to receive such appreciations.”
"I hope in future every sport will have atleast one member in the Hall of Fame so that it can inspire other sportsperson in the country," said Pradip, who is a fourth dan Black Belt.
Pradipta had clinched two gold medals, while Ruma bagged one gold each during the Indian taekwondo team's impressive show at the third Alexandria International Open Championships in Egypt from January 29 to February 1.
Pradipta previously won the gold medal at the 2003 and 2005 Hwarang World Taekwondo Championship held in South Korea, while Ruma also won a gold in 2005 in South Korea.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, June 13, 2009, 18:13