Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent time with India’s Commonwealth Games medallists on Sunday at his New Delhi residence. ANI have released short clips from that gathering and announced the complete video would drop at 10 am. The footage shows Modi walking around the athletes, many still in their blue tracksuits and wearing their medals, as they sat in rows of chairs. When speaking to Mirabai Chanu, the Prime Minister recognized the emotions that had prompted her victory and complimented the importance of her tears following the medal ceremony.
“You have made everyone proud. So many tears were falling. It felt like a gold medal is falling from every drop of tears,” PM Modi told Chanu.
Mirabai said that she had been absolutely overwhelmed with joy upon finally getting back to the top of the podium, though the moment also reminded her of the disappointment she had felt in Paris. “I was very happy and emotional on that day. I was very happy. And I cried because I lost my medal in the Paris Olympics. And a player has to face so many things in life, and I faced so many things in these 4 years,” she added.
The meeting with the Prime Minister had fewer athletes than previous editions, with several traditional medal sports left out of 2026 Commonwealth Games. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who took gold in the women’s 48 kg category for the third Commonwealth Games in a row, was among those present. Boxer Sakshi Chaudhary, winner of the women’s 51 kg title, also featured in the clips which have gone viral.
Boxing produced India’s strongest performance at the CWG 2026 with ten medals including seven of them being gold. In one of the released clips, Chaudhary introduces the group and notes how proud the athletes felt to meet the Prime Minister. Modi replied with the line that has been shared widely since: “Jo khelega, woh khilega.” He then called on the country to keep supporting its athletes and led a short “Bharat Mata ki Jai” chant.
India’s Success in Glasgow and Ahmedabad 2030
India sent 122 athletes to the 2026 Commonwealth Games and won 39 medals. Despite the absence of events like wrestling and shooting, India have had a good campaign. In Weightlifting, India won eight medals led by Mirabai Chanu’s historic gold. Athletics and para-athletics were also events where they managed to do well. Judo brought India five medals with two of those being gold. Tejaswin Shankar also created history with a first-ever CWG medal for India in decathlon. 38 athletes from the Games came home with medals. Gulveer Singh was the only athlete to win two individual medals.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also attended the Sunday meeting with the players. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later posted his own photos and a brief video, saying he had heard the athletes describe their experiences in Glasgow and that the results would push more young people toward sport. The next edition of the Commonwealth Games will be held in Ahmedabad. It will become only the second Indian city after Delhi to host the Commonwealth Games. According to reports, the 2030 Commonwealth Games are expected to feature 15 sports, five more than the 10 sports that were played in Glasgow.
