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Lovlina Borgohain had flagged a distorted Indian map printed on the napkins of a Glasgow restaurant.
Narendra Modi (left) and Lovlina Borgohain (Agencies)
A moment of national pride, an emotional release after years of struggle and a few lighter exchanges with Prime Minister Narendra Modi featured prominently as India’s Commonwealth Games medallists met him at his residence in New Delhi on Sunday.
Among the most notable interactions was Modi‘s conversation with boxer Lovlina Borgohain, who won silver in the 75kg category. The Assam fighter drew praise from the Prime Minister after objecting to a distorted Indian flag displayed at a restaurant during the Games.
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In a little over 10-minute video of the interaction released by the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday, Modi recalled the incident with a light-hearted question.
“Kya hua wo restaurant waale se jhagda kar rahi thi? (What happened, you were fighting with that restaurant guy?)” Modi asked Lovlina.
The boxer laughed while explaining why she had intervened, saying the team was celebrating after a successful campaign but she could not ignore the incorrect depiction of the national map.
“We had such a good performance and it was the last day of the Games. It was a happy occasion sir, we were celebrating and I didn’t like it when I saw the distorted flag. I politely told them and they have made the changes also,”she said.
Modi praised the boxer for remaining attentive to the symbolism of the flag even in the middle of celebrations.
“To be able to recognise the significance of that map at a time when you were celebrating and the Games were over, I can tell you truthfully, that video was not ordinary. It will be remembered by people for a very long time,” he told the Tokyo Olympics bronze-winner.
India finished fourth in the shortened Games with 39 medals, including 13 golds, seven of which came in boxing.
Another poignant exchange came with weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who claimed the 48kg gold in Glasgow with a Games-record lift of 190kg.
Modi brought up the tears she shed on the podium and later offered her a laddu.
For Mirabai, however, the tears represented far more than the joy of winning another major medal.
“Itne aansu tapak rahe the (So many tears were rolling down),” Modi remarked.
The weightlifter spoke about the difficult period that preceded her Glasgow triumph, including injuries, family problems and the disappointment of narrowly missing a medal at the Paris Olympics.
“I was very happy and emotional in that moment. I was crying because I missed a medal in Paris Olympics by one kilogram. I had faced a lot in these last four years. I was battling injuries and some family problems too. There were lot of things. So, these four years were very tough for me. And when I stood on the podium, our flag went up and the anthem played, it was hard to stop myself,” the diminutive Manipuri said.
The interaction also carried a broader message from Modi, who said the achievements of India’s athletes can have a greater impact on the country’s sporting culture than institutional efforts alone.
“I have been in this house for 12-13 years now and if there is one group that I have met regularly here, it is the athletes because of your efforts to win medals for India and your tradition of scaling new heights. Far more than our push to promote sports in schools, it is your medals that inspire people,” he said.
Modi also singled out boxer Jadumani Singh, who won the 55kg gold and had defeated a Pakistani opponent on July 26. The date coincided with Vijay Diwas, observed in remembrance of India’s victory in the 1999 Kargil War.
Jadumani, who serves in the Indian Army, had dedicated his victory to the armed forces.
Modi praised both the timing and the significance of the achievement.
“By dedicating your medal to the Indian armed forces, you added glory to an already glorious moment. You defeated the one who should have been defeated,” Modi told Jadumani.
With PTI Inputs
About the Author
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More
August 10, 2026, 12:06 IST
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