New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with India’s Commonwealth Games champions, reflecting on the transformation of Indian sports over the past decade.
He said receiving national sportspersons at his residence had remained a regular and cherished tradition throughout his 12 to 13 years in office. The PM noted that the achievements of Indian athletes inspired young students far more effectively than routine promotional messages, remarking that a medal inspires them more than anything said in a school visit.
During the interaction, an athlete recalled an earlier conversation about her daughters taking up sports and updated the PM on their progress, assuring him that they would bring home three medals at the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Modi welcomed her confidence and encouraged her commitment to excellence, according to an official statement.
Modi also spoke about the emotional journeys behind the athletes’ victories. He referred to a player who dedicated his win on Guru Purnima to his coach, and another athlete who broke down on the podium after overcoming four years of injuries and personal struggles to see the national flag raised.
He said such triumphs went beyond individual success to inspire future generations.
Modi also discussed the growing international standing of Indian athletes, noting that competitors abroad were increasingly wary of facing Indian opponents. He highlighted the rising reputation of Indian boxers and credited grassroots programmes such as the Khelo India Scheme, along with sustained competition support from the government, for the shift.
He said global players had started fearing Indian boxers as well.
The PM said athletes must retain the humility of a young learner even as the Khelo India initiative expanded in scale. He added that national sporting success depended not only on infrastructure but on building a broader sports culture across the country.
He acknowledged an Indian Army athlete who defeated his Pakistani opponent 5-0 on Kargil Vijay Diwas and dedicated the win to Army personnel, calling it a moment of exceptional national pride.
He also shared a lighter exchange with an athlete about his army coach, Narendra Rana, over their shared first name, remarking that the achievement reflected the shaping of an entire generation, not just a rise in medal count.
An athlete thanked the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for the training support that helped her progress from local sports centres to international podiums, a gesture Modi said he found deeply moving.
The PM asked about upgraded sports infrastructure in regional hubs including Varanasi and Bhopal, where athletes had trained and also visited spiritual sites such as Kashi Vishwanath and Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain. He credited SAI and the Khelo India framework, in place since 2018, for helping young talent move smoothly into elite-level competition. He expressed confidence in future victories and said he looked forward to meeting the athletes again.
Modi also extended birthday wishes to a multi-time medalist present at the interaction, personally offering her sweets and encouraging the contingent to sustain its winning momentum following three consecutive medal-winning performances.
