Mandaviya Quotes PM Modi's Support for India at Commonwealth Games
Synopsis
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya quoted Prime Minister Modi's message of support for the Indian team at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which opened just days ago, reinforcing the government's high-level backing for Indian athletes on the international stage.
Key Takeaways
Mansukh Mandaviya shared PM Narendra Modi's message backing India's contingent at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on 26 July 2026 .
PM Modi's message noted the Games began 'just a few days ago' and called on every citizen to send continuous good wishes to the Indian team.
India has participated in the Commonwealth Games since 1934 and is a consistent medal contender.
The Khelo India programme, launched in 2017 , underpins grassroots athlete development that feeds into squads for such events.
Amplifying PM-level sporting support messages is a recurring practice by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports during major international competitions.
Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday, 26 July 2026 shared a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing continuous good wishes for the Indian contingent at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which got under way just days ago.
Context
Mandaviya quoted the Prime Minister as saying, 'कुछ ही दिन पहले ग्लासगो में कॉमनवेल्थ गेम्स की शुरुआत हुई है, हर देशवासी भारतीय दल को निरंतर शुभकामनाएं दे रहा है' — 'The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow began just a few days ago; every citizen of the country is continuously sending good wishes to the Indian team.' The post, attributed to PM Modi, reflects the government's customary practice of lending high-level political endorsement to Indian athletes at major international competitions.
The Commonwealth Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event held among nations of the Commonwealth. India has participated in the Games since 1934 and has historically been a strong medal contender across disciplines including wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, and athletics.
Policy Backdrop
Glasgow previously hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014, making this edition a return to the Scottish city. India's sports infrastructure has seen sustained government investment over the past decade, most notably through the Khelo India programme launched in 2017, which targets grassroots athlete development and competitive exposure.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, which Mandaviya heads alongside the Labour and Employment portfolio, oversees funding, training, and logistical support for athletes representing India at international events. Government messaging during such tournaments is a consistent feature of the ministry's public communications.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary stakeholders are the Indian athletes competing in Glasgow, whose performances will shape the national medal tally and influence future funding priorities for their respective sports federations. Broader public interest in the Games is amplified when senior ministers and the Prime Minister personally signal their attention to the event.
Ministers amplifying the Prime Minister's messages of support during sporting events is a well-established pattern, seen across the Asian Games and Olympic cycles as well. Such messaging serves to connect political leadership with national sporting aspirations and keeps the government's sports agenda in public view.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to India's medal tally as the Games progress in Glasgow. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is expected to issue follow-up statements on athlete performance and may highlight support extended through schemes such as Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). Any significant medal wins are likely to prompt further messages from both the Prime Minister and the Sports Minister.
Point of View
Top-down enthusiasm for Indian sport — with the PM's voice lending the highest possible authority to the endorsement. This pattern, repeated across Olympic and Asian Games cycles, positions the ruling dispensation as the principal patron of India's sporting ambitions. With the Khelo India ecosystem maturing and a growing medal expectation from Indian athletes, the political stakes of international sporting performance have risen considerably. How India fares in Glasgow will likely determine the tenor of the ministry's follow-up communications and budget narratives around athlete welfare.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the 2026 Commonwealth Games being held?
The 2026 Commonwealth Games are being held in Glasgow, Scotland. Glasgow previously hosted the Games in 2014, making this a return to the Scottish city.
What did PM Modi say about the Commonwealth Games 2026?
PM Modi said that the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow began just a few days ago and that every citizen of India is continuously sending good wishes to the Indian team. Sports Minister Mandaviya shared this message on 26 July 2026.
Who is Mansukh Mandaviya?
Mansukh Mandaviya is a senior BJP leader and Union Minister holding charge of both Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports in the Government of India.
When did India first participate in the Commonwealth Games?
India has participated in the Commonwealth Games since 1934 and has been a consistent medal contender, particularly in wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, and athletics.
What is the Khelo India programme?
Khelo India is a government scheme launched in 2017 to strengthen grassroots sports development and competitive exposure for young athletes across India. It is overseen by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
