Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Indian medal-winning athletes from the Commonwealth Games 2026 at his residence in New Delhi on Sunday. During this, PM Modi learned about the athletes’ experiences and praised their achievements. The video of this meeting with the athletes was live-streamed on YouTube on Monday.
At the beginning of the conversation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “If I have regularly met anyone at this residence in the last 10-12 years, it is the athletes. In the last 10-12 years, the tradition of athletes’ hard work, continuous success, and reaching new heights has enhanced the country’s prestige.”
‘Couldn’t stop my tears,’ says Mirabai Chanu
“The last four years were extremely difficult for me after missing out on a medal at the Paris Olympics. During this time, I constantly faced injuries and family problems. After winning a medal at the Commonwealth Games, when I stood on the podium and the national anthem was playing, I couldn’t stop my tears.”
Chanu explained the reason she broke down when the national anthem was being played after she won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in the women’s weightlifting 48kg weight category by lifting a total of 190 kg. This was a third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal win for the Manipur weightlifter.
PM praises Lovlina Borgohain for flagging incorrect India map
PM appreciated boxer Lovlina Borgohain after she pointed out an incorrect India map at a Glasgow restaurant on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Games. Lovlina and the boxing contingent were at a restaurant named ‘Mister Singh’s India,’ where an India map without the North East and sections of Jammu and Kashmir were missing. The boxer, who won silver in women’s 75kg, asked the restaurant authorities to fix the map and ensure it does not happen again. “What happened? Were you fighting with the restaurant people?” he asked Lovlina.
The boxer responded, “Our performance was so good, and it was the last day. Everyone had won, and there were so many Indians there. I felt a bit bad (about the situation), so I spoke to them firmly and made a request, sir. They agreed, and things have changed now.”
Appreciating the Assam boxer for this, Modi said, “In that moment of victory–happiness, joy, being with teammates after the games are over–in such a mood of fun and laughter, to look at that map and register it… the feeling for the country isn’t just on the surface while receiving a medal; it’s deep within. I’m telling the truth, this video of yours is extraordinary. People will remember it for a long time.”
India’s incorrect map at Glasgow restaurant (Credits: X)
‘Gifted my medal to my Guru’ – Dilip Gavit to PM Modi
Para-athlete Dilip Mahadu Gavit dedicated his medal to his guru. He said, “It was Guru Purnima on the day of the event, and I gave this medal to my guru as a gift.” Dilip secured the first position in the men’s Para T47 category 100-meter race with a time of 10.71 seconds.
‘I had decided to defeat Pakistan’ – Jadumani Singh
Boxer Jadumani Singh defeated Pakistan’s Rahman Sumama 5-0 in the pre-quarterfinals on 26 July. On this match, which took place on Kargil Vijay Diwas, Jadumani said, “I am associated with the Indian Army, so I had already decided that I had to defeat Pakistan. I registered a 5-0 victory and dedicated my medal to the heroes of Kargil.”
PM Modi praised his spirit, saying that the sentiment of dedicating the medal to the heroes of Kargil made this victory even more special.
Boxer Narender Berwal also narrated an interesting incident from 2015 when he came up against a Pakistani boxer at the World Military Games. Narender recalled what the Pakistani boxer said to him. “Bhaijaan, aapka naam Narender hai, aapke coach ke naam Narender hai aur aapke Pradhan mantri ka bhi naam Narender hai. Mujhe Narender naam se nafra hogayi hai.” (Brother, your name is Narender, your coach’s name is Narender and your Prime Minister’s name is also Narender. I hate this name.”
Modi has met players before
Boxers won the most medals
Boxing made the biggest contribution to India’s 39 medals. Boxers won a total of 10 medals, including 7 gold and 3 silver. This means one out of every four medals came from boxing. Athletics brought 10 medals, but no gold was won in it.
A total of eight medals came from weightlifting, six from Para Athletics, four from Judo, and one from Para Powerlifting.
