Commonwealth Games gold medallist Mirabai Chanu said on 10 August that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words of encouragement — shared during his meeting with India's Glasgow 2026 medallists — will fuel her preparation for future competitions. The Manipur-born weightlifter reflected on one of the most emotionally charged victories of her career, a triumph built on four years of injuries, family hardship, and the sting of a missed Olympic podium in Paris.

What Modi Said to Chanu

During Sunday's reception at his residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi, Modi acknowledged the raw emotion Chanu had displayed after her medal ceremony in Glasgow. 'You have made everyone proud. So many tears were falling. I feel like a gold medal is falling from every drop of tears,' Modi told her.

Responding on X, Chanu wrote: 'Thank you Hon'ble Prime Minister @narendramodi ji for your constant support and motivation in our journey. Your words of encouragement to each and every medalist during our precious interaction yesterday will definitely motivate us to work hard in our next competitions.'

The Emotional Weight of Glasgow Gold

Chanu, who was 32 at the time of the Games, won gold in the women's 48kg weightlifting event — her latest Commonwealth Games title. But the medal carried meaning well beyond the podium. 'I was very happy and emotional on that day. I was very happy. And I cried because I lost my medal in the Paris Olympics. And a player has to face so many things in life, and I faced so many things in these 4 years,' she said.

The moment the Indian tricolour rose and the national anthem played in Glasgow proved overwhelming. 'When I was standing on the podium, and when our flag was raised, and when our national anthem was played, I couldn't stop myself from crying,' Chanu added.

Four Years of Setbacks

The road to Glasgow was anything but smooth. Chanu revealed that recurring injuries repeatedly disrupted her training cycles while she simultaneously navigated personal difficulties at home. 'I was prone to injuries all the time. And I was facing family problems as well. The last four years were very difficult,' she said.

The absence of an Olympic medal in Paris — after her historic silver at Tokyo 2020 — had left a visible wound. Her Glasgow gold, seen through that lens, represented a hard-fought restoration of confidence as much as a sporting achievement.

India's Glasgow 2026 Campaign

Modi received the full contingent of Indian medallists at his residence on Sunday following the conclusion of the Games. India finished fourth in the overall medal tally with 39 medals — 13 gold, 17 silver, and 9 bronze — despite competing in a curtailed programme that excluded several disciplines in which the country has historically performed well.

Chanu's gold stands as one of the standout performances of that campaign, and with her motivation renewed, the weightlifter appears set to carry that momentum into the next cycle of international competition.