Celebrating Indian Athletes' Triumph at Commonwealth Games 2026
Union Minister Honors Commonwealth Games Champions
On Tuesday, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, recognized Indian athletes who returned from the Commonwealth Games 2026, celebrating their remarkable achievements in boxing, judo, and para-athletics.
Celebration of CWG 2026 Achievements
During the felicitation event, members of the Indian boxing team were acknowledged for leading the medal tally with a total of 10 medals, which included seven gold and three silver. The Minister also honored the judo team, which achieved its best performance in Commonwealth Games history by winning four medals, including two golds, and the para-athletics team, whose remarkable efforts in Glasgow marked a significant milestone for Indian para sports.
Cash Awards for Medal Winners
Medalists were awarded cash prizes of Rs 30 lakh for gold, Rs 20 lakh for silver, and Rs 10 lakh for bronze.
Encouragement for Future Mentorship
Mandaviya encouraged the athletes to think beyond their competitive careers and contribute to the future of Indian sports by mentoring young athletes. He highlighted the revamped Khelo India scheme, which has received a substantial investment of Rs 36,000 crore, urging athletes to consider establishing sports academies post-retirement.
"Winning a Commonwealth Games medal should not just be about securing a government job. I urge you all to run sports academies after your active careers," Dr. Mandaviya stated, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing 'India first.'
Looking Ahead to Asian Games 2026
"While you were competing for gold in Glasgow, we launched the expanded Khelo India scheme with an investment of Rs 36,000 crore, which will ensure continued growth in Indian sports," he added. As the Asian Games 2026 approaches, Mandaviya urged athletes to carry forward the momentum from their Commonwealth Games success.
"I want each of you to leverage this morale boost to secure more gold medals at the 2026 Asian Games. Those who earned silver and bronze should aim for gold, while gold medalists must maintain their excellence," the Minister remarked. He also reminded athletes to acknowledge their coaches' contributions, stating, "Never forget the role of your coaches; their guidance is invaluable in your journey."
Boxing Team's Outstanding Performance
The Indian boxing team returned from Glasgow with an impressive tally of seven gold and three silver medals. The gold medals were won by Preeti Pawar (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), and Ankush Panghal (80kg). The silver medals were claimed by Jadumani Singh (55kg), Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), and Narender Berwal (90+kg). This achievement marked the best performance by Indian women boxers at the Commonwealth Games.
Historic Judo Achievements
Indian judo also received accolades for its best-ever performance at the Commonwealth Games. Competing in 12 events, India secured four medals: one gold, one silver, and one bronze, a significant improvement from the previous edition in 2022, where no gold was won. Khelo India athletes Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh made history by winning India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medals in judo, with Asmita being the first Indian woman to achieve this and Harsh the first Indian male.
Government Support Enhances Athletic Success
The success of these medal-winning athletes can be attributed to government initiatives such as Khelo India, TOPS, and the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC) programs, which provided national camps at SAI NCOEs, exposure to international competitions, and essential training support.