New Delhi, August 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised India’s Commonwealth Games 2026 medallists for their impressive performance in Glasgow, saying their achievements had gone beyond the medal tally by inspiring young athletes and helping build a stronger sporting culture in the country.
Interacting with the Indian contingent at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, Modi said the athletes’ victories would serve as an inspiration for future generations.
“I do not consider this achievement to be yours alone. Your victory becomes a great source of inspiration for the generations to come,” he said.
“You have not just increased the number of medals. You have prepared an entire generation,” the Prime Minister added.
Modi said medals could influence children more powerfully than conventional efforts to promote sports. “The work that perhaps we could have done by going to schools and speaking to children, your medals inspire them much more,” he said, congratulating the athletes for making the country proud.
He also assured the medallists that their success would continue, saying he expected to meet them again after future victories.
The Prime Minister was particularly moved during his interaction with gold medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who became emotional while recalling the challenges she had faced and the moment she stood on the podium as the Indian flag was raised. Modi said her tears reflected the value of the achievement.
Modi also credited the sustained efforts of Indian athletes over the past decade with creating a new tradition of sporting success. He highlighted initiatives such as Khelo India in nurturing the country’s emerging talent.
India finished fourth in the Glasgow Games medal standings with 39 medals — 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze. The achievement was significant as the Games featured a reduced programme and did not include several disciplines in which India traditionally performs strongly, including wrestling, badminton, table tennis, hockey and shooting.
Boxing emerged as one of India’s strongest disciplines, producing seven gold and three silver medals. The gold medallists were Preeti Pawar (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg) and Ankush Panghal (80kg). Jadumani Singh (55kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) and Narender Berwal (90kg-plus) won silver medals.
India’s seven boxing golds also marked its best-ever performance by women boxers at the Commonwealth Games. Modi praised the boxers, saying their performances had instilled confidence and made Indian boxing a force respected internationally.
Judo produced India’s best-ever Commonwealth Games performance in the discipline, with two gold, one silver and one bronze from 12 events. Khelo India athletes Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh created history by becoming the first Indian woman and man respectively to win Commonwealth Games gold in judo.
Athletics contributed 10 medals — five silver and five bronze. Gulveer Singh became the first Indian track and field athlete to win two individual medals at a single Commonwealth Games, taking silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m.
The Prime Minister said the athletes’ performances, including those of para-athletes, were helping create a lasting sporting legacy and encouraging the next generation to pursue excellence.
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