A Homecoming Fit for Champions

There's a particular kind of pride that comes with bringing a medal home for your country — and on Sunday, August 9, that pride filled the room at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the doors of his official residence in New Delhi to welcome back India's medal-winning contingent from the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, turning what could have been a routine photo-op into a genuinely warm, personal celebration.

'Sir, Would You Like to Say Something?'

Among the athletes in the room was boxer Sakshi Chaudhary, who had claimed gold in the women's 51kg category in Glasgow. In a video the Prime Minister later shared on X, Sakshi is heard introducing herself with visible excitement: "Hello friends! This is Sakshi Chaudhary. Today, our honourable Prime Minister has invited us, the Commonwealth Games medalists, and we feel very proud. We are extremely happy to have met him; he is very humble." Turning to Modi, she asked, "Sir, would you like to say something?" His reply has since become the moment's defining soundbite: "Jo khelega, woh khilega" — the one who plays, will blossom — followed by a rallying cry for the nation: "Always cheer for Bharat."

PM Modi's Message: Pride, Gratitude and a Nod to the Next Generation

In a separate post, PM Modi wrote with evident warmth, "Delighted to host our outstanding medal winners from the Commonwealth Games 2026 at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Heard about their experiences from the Games. Each one of them has made our nation proud through their exceptional performances. Their success will motivate many youngsters." That last line carried particular weight — a reminder that these medals do more than fill a trophy cabinet; they plant the idea in a million young minds back home that this could be them one day. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse were also present, rounding out what felt less like a formal state event and more like a proud extended family gathering around its most accomplished members.

Small Squad, Big Heart: Breaking Down Glasgow's 39 Medals

What makes this achievement genuinely remarkable is the context behind it. India travelled to Glasgow with a squad of just 122 athletes — a sharp drop from the 210-strong contingent sent to Birmingham in 2022 — and did so with several traditionally medal-heavy disciplines missing from the Glasgow roster altogether. And yet, 38 of those 122 athletes returned home with a medal around their neck, powering India to a fourth-place finish overall with 39 medals: 13 gold, 17 silver, and 9 bronze.

Boxing carried much of that weight. The Indian boxing squad delivered its best-ever Commonwealth Games campaign, walking away with 10 medals, including 7 gold — Sakshi Chaudhary among them. Track and field added 10 more medals to the tally, while the para-athletics contingent chipped in 6 medals, including 3 golds. And tucked into those numbers were moments of genuine history: Asmita Dey became the first Indian ever, in either the men's or women's competition, to win a Commonwealth Games gold in judo, while weightlifter Mirabai Chanu opened India's medal account with gold, completing a hat-trick of CWG titles across three consecutive Games.

From Glasgow's Closing Ceremony to Ahmedabad's Big Moment

The Glasgow Games wrapped up after 11 days of competition with a symbolic passing of the torch, quite literally. Scotland formally handed over the Commonwealth Games flag and ceremonial baton to India during the closing ceremony, received by Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha, and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi. The handover confirmed what had already been announced: Ahmedabad will host the landmark centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030, making India only the second country to host the event twice, following New Delhi's turn in 2010.

What Comes Next

For now, the celebrations at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg mark a well-earned pause before the next chapter begins. Attention will soon turn to the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where India's athletes will look to carry forward the momentum, confidence, and hard-won lessons from a Glasgow campaign that, despite a smaller squad and a leaner medal roster, still delivered one of the country's most efficient Commonwealth Games performances in years.