Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India’s success in international sports depends not merely on building infrastructure but on creating a comprehensive sports culture across the country.
Interacting with India’s Commonwealth Games champions, PM Modi congratulated the athletes for bringing glory to the nation and said their medals and achievements inspire young students far more effectively than verbal encouragement.
“Your medal inspires them more than anything we could say by going to schools,” PM Modi said, underlining the role of successful athletes in motivating the next generation to take up sports.
The Prime Minister noted the transformation of India’s sporting landscape over the past decade and said receiving national sportspersons at his residence had become a cherished tradition during his tenure.
PM Modi highlighted the emotional journeys behind several of the athletes’ victories, recalling instances of players dedicating their achievements to their coaches and others overcoming years of injuries and personal hardships to reach the podium.
He said such victories went beyond individual achievements and became a source of inspiration for generations to come.
“This victory of yours becomes a very big inspiration for the coming generations,” the Prime Minister told the athletes.
Highlighting the growing stature of Indian athletes on the international circuit, PM Modi said competitors from other countries now increasingly recognise the strength of Indian teams. He specifically pointed to the rise of Indian boxing and credited initiatives such as Khelo India and sustained competition and training support for helping athletes improve their performance.
“World players have now started fearing these boxers too,” PM Modi said, referring to the growing reputation of Indian boxers internationally.
The Prime Minister stressed that athletes should retain the humility and eagerness to learn associated with a young sportsperson even as they bring greater prestige to the Khelo India initiative.
“Sports infrastructure is one thing, but the country achieves medals when a sports culture is built in the country,” PM Modi said.
He also highlighted the contribution of athletes serving in the Indian Army. Referring to an Army athlete who defeated a Pakistani opponent 5-0 on Kargil Vijay Diwas and dedicated the victory to the heroes of the armed forces, PM Modi said such expressions of national pride added a special significance to sporting achievements.
The Prime Minister also recalled interactions with athletes about their coaches, training journeys and personal experiences, including a humorous anecdote involving an Army coach named Narendra Rana.
Praising the contribution of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), PM Modi said government-supported training facilities had helped athletes move from local sports centres to international podiums. He noted that sustained support through SAI and the Khelo India framework since its launch in 2018 had helped young talent progress towards elite-level competition.
PM Modi also enquired about upgraded sports facilities in regional hubs such as Varanasi and Bhopal and the athletes’ experiences during training camps in these locations.
During the interaction, the Prime Minister warmly congratulated a multi-time medallist whose birthday coincided with the meeting. He offered sweets to mark the occasion and encouraged the athletes to maintain their winning momentum.
Expressing confidence in their future performances, PM Modi said he expected the athletes to continue bringing laurels to the country and return for more victories.
“Rest assured, in the future too you will be victorious and once again we will meet right here,” he told the contingent.
Emphasising the wider objective of the country’s sporting initiatives, PM Modi said India’s progress should not be measured only by the number of medals won but also by the generation of young athletes being prepared for the future.
“You have not merely increased the number of medals; you have prepared a generation,” the Prime Minister said.
He concluded by encouraging the athletes to continue pursuing excellence with a positive outlook, saying, “He who plays, blooms.”
