Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with India's Commonwealth Games champions, praising their achievements and stressing that medals, grassroots programmes and a strong sports culture can inspire the next generation.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with India's Commonwealth Games champions and praised the country's athletes for their growing success on the international sporting stage, emphasising that India's long-term sporting ambitions depend on creating a strong sports culture, rather than focusing only on physical infrastructure.
During the interaction, Modi noted that meeting national sportspersons at his residence had become a regular and cherished tradition during his tenure. He congratulated the athletes for bringing glory to the country and said their achievements were inspiring a new generation of young Indians.
The Prime Minister said the success of India's athletes has a greater impact on schoolchildren than conventional motivational campaigns.
"Your medal inspires them more than anything we could say by going to schools," Modi remarked, emphasising the inspirational power of sporting achievements.
He said every medal won by an Indian athlete creates aspirations among young students and encourages them to consider sport as a serious pursuit.
Modi interacted with athletes about their personal journeys and recognised the determination and sacrifices behind their achievements.
He recalled the commitment of an athlete who had earlier spoken about encouraging her daughters to take up sports. During the interaction, the athlete assured the Prime Minister that her daughters would aim to win three medals at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
The Prime Minister also referred to athletes who had dedicated victories to their coaches and those who overcame years of injuries and personal challenges before standing on the podium.
He said such achievements went beyond individual success and became lasting sources of inspiration for future generations.
The Prime Minister observed that Indian athletes are increasingly commanding respect on the international circuit, with competitors becoming more cautious when facing Indian opponents.
He particularly highlighted the growing strength of Indian boxing, while athletes shared their experiences of how grassroots initiatives such as the Khelo India Scheme and sustained competition support had helped transform their careers.
Modi said the progress demonstrated that India's sports ecosystem was beginning to produce athletes capable of competing consistently at the highest level.
Highlighting the broader vision for Indian sports, Modi said infrastructure was important but could not by itself guarantee sporting success.
"Sports infrastructure is one thing, but the country achieves medals when a sports culture is built in the country," he said.
He urged athletes to retain the humility and curiosity of young learners even as their achievements increased the prestige of initiatives such as Khelo India.
The Prime Minister also praised an Indian Army athlete who defeated a Pakistani opponent 5-0 on Kargil Vijay Diwas and dedicated the victory to the heroes of the Indian Army.
Modi said the athlete's expression of patriotism added a special dimension to the sporting achievement.
He also shared lighter moments with an athlete who narrated an anecdote involving his Army coach Narendra Rana, prompting a humorous exchange around their shared first name.
"You have not merely increased the number of medals; you have prepared a generation," Modi told the athletes.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the contribution of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in providing training facilities and support that helped athletes progress from local sporting centres to international podiums.
He interacted with athletes about upgraded sporting infrastructure at regional hubs including Varanasi and Bhopal, as well as their training experiences and visits to spiritual destinations such as Kashi Vishwanath and Mahakaleshwar.
Modi highlighted the role of SAI and the Khelo India framework, launched in 2018, in identifying young talent and supporting their transition towards elite-level competition.
The Prime Minister also extended birthday wishes to a multiple medal winner who celebrated her birthday during the interaction. He personally offered sweets and encouraged the athletes to maintain their winning momentum.
He expressed confidence that the contingent would continue its medal-winning run and said he looked forward to meeting the champions again after future victories.
"He who plays, blooms," Modi said, encapsulating his message on the role of sports in shaping India's young generation.
