New Delhi: As the nation mourns the death of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, India’s chef de mission for Asian Games 2018, has said that all medals won by the Indian athletes at the sporting event will be dedicated to the deceased leader.

The legendary Vajpayee passed away at New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Thursday, leaving the entire nation grief-stricken. Loved and admired by many, including the Opposition, Vajpayee was an integral part of the Indian polity. 

At his funeral procession held on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah walked behind the hearse carrying Vajpayee’s mortal remains. 

“All the medals which will be won by the Indian athletes in #AsianGames2018 will be dedicated to the former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee," ANI quoted Singh as saying.
 

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) also took to Twitter and posted a photo of the Indian athletes paying homage to the former prime minister from Indonesia, where they have assembled for the Asian Games. 

SAI tweeted, “#TeamIndia #athletes and officials pay their respects to #India’s former PM Late Sh Atal Bihari Vajpayee at #Jakarta host city of #AsianGames2018.”
 

The Asian Games is a pan-Asian multi-sport event, and this year it will be held from August 18 to September 2 in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang.