Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday, 4 August felicitated Indian athletes who returned from the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow with historic medal hauls in boxing, judo, and para-athletics. The ceremony, held in New Delhi, honoured a contingent that collectively delivered what officials described as the country's best-ever performance across these three disciplines.

Record Hauls Across Three Disciplines

India's boxing contingent topped the Commonwealth Games boxing medal tally with 10 medals — seven gold and three silver, marking the best-ever performance by Indian women boxers at the Games. Gold medals came from Preeti Pawar (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), and Ankush Panghal (80kg). Silver medals were won by Jadumani Singh (55kg), Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), and Narender Berwal (90+kg).

Indian judo scripted its best-ever Commonwealth Games campaign, winning four medals — two gold, one silver, and one bronze — compared to three medals with no gold at the 2022 edition. Khelo India athletes Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh created history by claiming India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medals in judo. Asmita became the first Indian woman judoka to win the title, while Harsh became the first Indian male to do so. The para-athletics contingent also drew special recognition for performances in Glasgow that officials called a watershed moment for Indian para sport.

Cash Awards and Government Support

Medal winners received cash awards of ₹30 lakh for gold, ₹20 lakh for silver, and ₹10 lakh for bronze. The athletes' journeys were supported through government programmes including Khelo India, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC), along with national camps at SAI NCOEs, international competition exposure, and equipment support.

Mandaviya's Call to Action: Mentor the Next Generation

Addressing the athletes, Dr. Mandaviya urged them to look beyond their competitive careers. 'Let us not just win a Commonwealth Games medal with the aim to bag a government job. I urge all of you to run sports academies once you retire from your active career,' he said, adding that the athletes' mission should be 'India first.'

He also flagged the revamped Khelo India scheme, backed by a ₹36,000-crore investment, as a foundation for the next phase of Indian sport. 'While you were playing for the gold in Glasgow, we launched the expanded Khelo India scheme by investing a total of Rs. 36000 Crore, which will take care of greater continued investment in the growth of Indian sports in the coming years,' he added. The minister also stressed the role of coaches, urging athletes to never overlook the contribution of their mentors: 'The guidance of a Guru takes you a long way in life.'

Eye on Asian Games 2026

With the Asian Games 2026 on the horizon, Dr. Mandaviya challenged the contingent to sustain and improve on their Glasgow showing. 'I want all of you to use this morale boost to win more gold medals at the 2026 Asian Games. Those who have won silver and bronze must strive for gold, while those who have won gold must sustain this level of excellence,' he said. The ceremony signals a broader government push to convert Commonwealth momentum into a deeper medal pipeline ahead of the Asian Games and beyond.