PM Narendra Modi hails Indian contingent on winning 39 medals at CWG 2026
New Delhi, August 3
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the Indian contingent for its performance at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, after the country won 39 medals, including 13 gold.
In a post on X, PM Modi praised the athletes for displaying exceptional skill, determination and dedication throughout the Games.
"Proud of our contingent's performance at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Delighted that India has won 39 medals, including 13 Golds. Congrats to the medal winners," PM Modi said.
"Throughout the Games, our talented athletes have displayed exceptional skill, determination and dedication. Their hardwork will keep inspiring our youngsters," he added.
The Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the entire Indian contingent for its future endeavours and expressed hope that the athletes would continue to perform well and bring further glory to the nation.
"My best wishes to the entire Indian contingent for the endeavours ahead. May they continue to give their very best and bring further glory to the nation," PM Modi said.
The curtains came down on the 2026 Commonwealth Games after 11 days of competition, with Scotland formally handing over the Commonwealth Games flag and ceremonial baton to India, hosts of the landmark centenary edition in 2030, during a glittering closing ceremony.
The 2030 Commonwealth Games will be held in Ahmedabad, making India only the second nation after Australia to host the multi-sport event on more than one occasion. India had previously staged the Games in New Delhi in 2010.
The Commonwealth Games flag and baton were presented to India's representatives, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha, and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi as part of the official handover ceremony.
India also had plenty to celebrate on the sporting front, finishing fourth in the medals table with a haul of 39 medals, 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze, to cap off a successful campaign. Although India's tally was lower than the 61 medals won in Birmingham in 2022, the context tells a different story.
Thirty of those medals had come in sports that were dropped from the Glasgow programme. With only 122 athletes compared to 210 four years ago, India still managed to maintain its fourth-place finish while producing an even better medal conversion rate, with 38 athletes returning home with medals.
Long-distance runner Gulveer Singh was the only Indian to win two medals. With the ceremonial handover complete, the focus now shifts to Ahmedabad, which will host the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see India's continued growth in sports. The medal conversion rate is impressive - nearly one in three athletes medalled. Looking forward to seeing how India prepares for the 2030 Ahmedabad Games. That could be a real turning point for Indian sports.
Honestly, while I'm proud of our athletes, I can't help but feel we could have done better in some events. But considering the reduced squad and the sports dropped, 13 golds is still a solid performance. The real test will be 2030 in Ahmedabad - I hope we're preparing properly for that. 🙏
Congratulations to all our medal winners! Gulveer Singh winning two medals deserves special mention. Also great to see Neeraj Chopra and PT Usha representing India at the handover ceremony. These moments inspire the next generation of athletes back home. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
As a sports lover, I'm happy with the performance but also think about what could've been with more athletes. Still, 4th place overall is worth celebrating. Let's support our players and hope the government invests more in grassroots sports before 2030. We have the potential to do even better at home!
PM Modi's words are encouraging. The athletes deserve all the praise - being a sportsperson at this level requires incredible sacrifice. But I do wish more media attention was given to the non-cricket sports throughout the year, not just during CWG or Olympics. Let's build a stronger sports culture, not just celebrate once every few years.
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