Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 26 July used his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat' to salute Indian youth and women athletes, spotlighting shuttler PV Sindhu's landmark Japan Open title and the Indian women's cricket team's maiden Test victory at Lord's by 270 runs. The Prime Minister described both achievements as milestones that fill the entire nation with pride.

Sindhu's Japan Open Breakthrough

Modi opened his sporting tribute by celebrating PV Sindhu's historic win at the Japan Open, making her the first Indian to claim the title in badminton. The victory ended a seven-year wait for a Super 750 or higher-tier title — her biggest Tour triumph since the World Tour Finals and China Open she won in 2018 and 2016 respectively. It was also her first BWF World Tour title since the Syed Modi International in December 2024.

'Our youth have achieved remarkable feats in sports recently. PV Sindhu has become the first Indian to win the Japan Open title in badminton; the entire nation is proud of this achievement of hers,' Modi said.

Women's Cricket Team Scripts History at Lord's

Modi then turned to the Indian women's cricket team's emphatic 270-run win at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London — the team's first-ever Test victory at the iconic venue. He drew a direct line to India's maiden Cricket World Cup triumph at Lord's in 1983, framing the women's win as a continuation of that storied legacy.

'This is a historic victory; our team won the match by a massive margin of 270 runs. But that is not all — in the long history of Lord's, this was the first Test match played by a women's team. It was on this very ground that India won her first Cricket World Cup in 1983. Now, our Nari Shakti has brought glory to the nation there,' Modi said.

India's Dominant Red-Ball Run

The Lord's triumph extended India's formidable form in Test cricket, taking their tally to seven wins from their last 11 Test matches. Crucially, the team has maintained an unbeaten record in the longest format on English soil — a streak that underscores the depth and consistency of the current squad.

Celebrating 'Nari Shakti'

A recurring theme of Modi's address was the rise of 'Nari Shakti' — women's power — in Indian sport. By anchoring both the badminton and cricket achievements within a broader national narrative, the Prime Minister signalled a deliberate effort to spotlight women's sporting excellence as a point of collective pride. This comes amid growing institutional investment in women's sports infrastructure and increased international exposure for Indian women athletes.

With two landmark achievements in a single week, Indian sport appears to be entering a new phase of global competitiveness — and the government's messaging is clearly intent on amplifying that momentum.