Glad that we were able to achieve our goal: Sania Mirza at Asian Games medal winners felicitation in Delhi

New Delhi: The athletes, who finished with a podium position at the 2014 Asian Games, were felicitated at a ceremony held in the national capital on Monday.

Congratulating the winners, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said that he wishes to establish a sporting culture in India.

"I have been following the Olympics ever since I was able to watch it on television and I have been very particular to not miss any event at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games or Asian Games in which India participates. India has a great tradition of sports but we have yet to convert it into a sports culture. We have to make a movement," he said while speaking at the event.

"Except cricket, I am ready to make any type of sports a culture in the country," Rijiju added.

Tennis ace Sania Mirza, who won a gold medal in the mixed-doubles event at the Asian Games, said that all athletes who represent their country dream of making India proud.

"I am proud of all 541 athletes, who represented the country at the Asian Games. It is our dream to see the national flag aloft in another country and to hear the national anthem as we win our respective event. So, I am glad that we were able to achieve that goal," said Mirza.

"We don't come from a sports-culture nation, we come from a cricketing nation. So, we should be even more proud of our achievements," she added.

The recently concluded Asian Games , which were held in Incheon, South Korea, saw India finish at the eighth position in the medal's tally with 11 gold, 10 silver and 36 bronze medals.