Watch: 'Gold medalists' Sakshi Malik and PV Sindhu met PM Modi, says sports minister Vijay Goel
The latest addition to the ever growing Goel faux pas list.
#WATCH "Rio Olympics gold medallists PV Sindhu & Sakshi Malik met PM Modi today," says Sports Minister Vijay Goelhttps://t.co/5LiKwExkv7
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 28, 2016
These days Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel cannot seem to get anything right. Earlier this month, the Rio Olympics committee had threatened to cancel the BJP MP's accreditation for "rude and aggressive" behaviour. Then he received criticism for forcefully clicking selfies with tired athletes right after a performance.
His twitter account was also not free from mistakes. Not only did he get Dipa Karmakar's name wrong, he also got confused between athletes Dutee Chand and Srabani Nanda.
In an attempt to clean up his act, Goel met actor Suniel Shetty to discuss how sports in India could be developed. Obviously the right choice.
Met @SunielVShetty, discussed constructive steps for the encouragement & development of Sports in India. pic.twitter.com/PtmWiFcJQf
— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) August 28, 2016
But that doesn't seem to have helped the sports minister. At a press conference, where his tone seems heavily rehearsed, as though he is trying not to get things wrong, he said, "Today the Khel Ratna awardee, Dhyan Chand awardees, Dronacharya awardees, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure awardees met the Prime Minister. In that, we also had two Rio gold medallists – PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik." Hugely impressive as their achievements might be, neither of the two Olympians won a gold in Rio.
Goel, as usual, was taken to task by the folks on Twitter.
Vijay Goel is an amazing gymnast. His classic move is the one where he takes both his feet and shoves them inside his mouth.
— Sahil Shah (@SahilBulla) August 28, 2016
Vijay Goel sought Sports tips from Sunil Shetty
— Shehzad Poonawalla (@Shehzad_Ind) August 28, 2016
Would request HM Rajnath ji to consult Asrani ji on police reforms pic.twitter.com/Qitd91IiJV
"Rio Olympic Gold Medallists PV Sindhu & Sakshi Malik met PM today- Vijay Goel"
— Arun Shourie (@MirrorShourie) August 28, 2016
Its Kejriwal fault, too many licensed liquor shops in Delhi!
'Comedy Nights with Vijay Goel' shuru karwaao koi!
— Aisi Taisi Democracy (@AisiTaisiDemo) August 28, 2016
Vijay Goel is Ameesha Patel of Politics.
— Nirzary (@nonziponzi) August 28, 2016
After all that has been made about India's failure to win more medals, especially golds, the sports minister might be expected to know a thing or two about the situation off the top of his head. But not according to Goel himself.
I wanted to say medallist but ended up saying gold medallist and anyway, who knows we might bag a gold medal in the coming years: Vijay Goel
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 28, 2016