Narendra Modi met Indian athletes who won medals at Commonwealth Games 2026 on Sunday and thanked them for their performance and urged them to build a strong sporting culture in the country. Modi said that having a sports system is really important but a country can only win medals when a real culture of sports is created in its people.
The meeting was organized after India finished its campaign at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2026. The Indian team achieved a good performance and finished fourth. Indian athletes in boxing, weightlifting, athletics, para-athletics and other sports are in the medal list.
Modi emphasized sports culture as an important theme of the interaction. According to the Prime Minister, sporting success cannot be achieved simply through infrastructure (government schemes or the presence of training centres). A broader environment in which children and young people are encouraged to participate in sports is important as well.
At a time when India is more and more interested in developing young athletes rather than traditional sports such as cricket, government-backed initiatives and grassroots initiatives have aimed to find and train young athletes at home and work at a national level. Indian athletes’ success at international events has also raised public interest in other sports other than cricket.
The Prime Minister also talked to the athletes about the journey behind every medal. Success in international sports is one of years of training, discipline, competition and work of athletes, coaches and support teams. Medal winners are recognised for their podium finishes as well as the work to get there.
Modi also encouraged the athletes to continue working toward future wins. He added that India's sporting achievement can be improved if there is continuous support for the country's athletes and the country's sporting ecosystem is built on.
India will have an opportunity to build on the Glasgow success in future world championships, Asian events and Olympic qualification events.
India’s performance at the Commonwealth Games also reflects the depth of talent in all aspects of life and sport. Many international athletes from different backgrounds came from India's big youth population and have already shown that they can become great athletes.
The Prime Minister’s comments about developing a sports culture also indicate the importance of sports participation at the school and community levels. Sports become part of young people’s lives and more talent can be discovered and encouraged for elite competition.
Coaches, families and support staff are key players in athletes’ lives and that was also the moment of acknowledgment for them. Each medal-winning performance is a bigger picture and not just an individual and with a team that helps athletes prepare for high-stress competitions.
So India’s performance in Glasgow has made us feel optimistic about Indian sports. Not only are we going to win medals but we hope to build a stronger sporting environment as a whole and to produce champions for all generations.
The Prime Minister’s message to the Commonwealth Games medallists was to always be about continuity: success at one major event should serve as motivation for future accomplishments. Modi’s message to athletes that we should encourage them to keep going and keep trying for the best can only be to keep going after a successful campaign in the long term.
Delhi: During his interaction with the Indian athletes who won medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Having a sports system in place is one thing, but a country wins medals only when a true sports culture is fostered within the nation.… pic.twitter.com/JZQAO136KP
— IANS (@ians_india) August 10, 2026
The meeting also sent a message to aspiring athletes across India. With all that is good for sports, medals and experience with training and competition, the Commonwealth Games medal winners can show what it is.
With India moving towards big international competitions in the future, we will continue to work on grassroots participation, training and athletes' career development. However, it is the Commonwealth Games 2026 medal winners that help to make the country proud of its sporting talent and Modi’s words have given a new impetus to create a lasting culture of sports.
In case India hosts the Commonwealth Games again in 2030, developing a good sporting ecosystem will be a huge national priority.
