Anurag Thakur Hails India's 39-Medal Haul at Glasgow CWG
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Thirteen golds and counting — BJP MP Anurag Thakur greeted Monday, 3 August 2026 with a surge of national pride as India's contingent at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games crossed 39 medals, turning what was already a strong campaign into what he called 'a celebration of Indian sporting excellence.'
Posting on X, the former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports wrote: 'Gold and glory! What a magnificent morning for Bharat. With 39 medals, including 13 Golds, our contingent has turned the Glasgow Commonwealth Games into a celebration of Indian sporting excellence.' He congratulated every athlete who 'has worn the Tricolour with pride,' adding that the medal shower 'reflects years of discipline, sacrifice and the relentless pursuit of excellence.'
From Khelo India to Glasgow's podiums
The performance Thakur celebrates did not emerge overnight. Two flagship programmes have quietly reshaped India's sporting pipeline over the past decade. The Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, seeded grassroots infrastructure and talent identification across states. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), introduced in 2014, wrapped elite athletes in financial and high-performance training support — the kind of sustained investment that converts potential into podium finishes.
Successive governments have steadily raised the sports budget and pushed India's competitive identity beyond cricket. Commonwealth Games results have become the most visible report card for that long-term bet, and a 13-gold return at Glasgow is precisely the kind of headline number that validates the argument.
Thakur's call as the Games run on
Thakur, who stewarded the sports ministry during a formative stretch of this build-up, credited the campaign to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 'dedicated efforts' of Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. His message was as much a rallying cry as a congratulation: 'The Games are still on, and your winning run must continue. Go for more podium finishes, keep raising the Tricolour higher, and keep making Bharat proud.'
With events still to conclude, the final tally — and whether India can push that gold count higher — remains the live story. Every additional medal will add fresh ammunition to the case that India's multi-sport ambition has moved from aspiration to habit.