Indian boxer Narender Berwal recently shared a light-hearted anecdote with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an interaction with Commonwealth Games 2026 medallists. Berwal, who secured a silver medal in the men’s 90+kg boxing category at the Games, recounted a memorable exchange he had with a Pakistani pugilist after defeating him at the 2015 World Military Games.
The interaction took place at the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi on Sunday, August 9, where Prime Minister Modi hosted members of the Indian contingent who returned with medals from the Commonwealth Games. He engaged with the athletes, holding one-on-one conversations with several of them.
A memorable boxing encounter
Berwal recalled that his first-round match at the 2015 World Military Games was against a Pakistani opponent. He mentioned receiving a call from the military emphasising the importance of not losing to a Pakistani adversary. Berwal won the fight, but both boxers sustained cuts and required stitches, leading them to the hospital.
It was at the hospital that the Pakistani boxer noted a series of coincidences involving the name Narendra. Berwal’s army coach at the Games was also named Narender. The Pakistani boxer expressed his surprise and a humorous aversion to the name, stating in Hindi, “Aapka naam Narender hai, aapke coach ka naam Narender hai, aapke Pradhan Mantri ka naam Narendra hai. Mujhe Narendra naam se nafrat ho gayi hai.” This translates to: “Your name is Narender, your coach’s name is Narender, and your Prime Minister’s name is Narendra. I have started hating the name Narendra.” Prime Minister Modi reportedly laughed upon hearing the story.
India’s strong performance at Commonwealth Games 2026
Berwal was among the 10 Indian boxers who earned medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. This performance marked India’s best-ever showing in boxing at any Commonwealth Games edition, surpassing the previous record of six gold medals. The prior record was jointly held by England (in 1934 and 2018) and Canada (in 1986).
India’s boxing medal haul included seven gold and three silver medals. The gold medallists were Ankush Panghal, Sachin Siwach, Jaismine Lamboria, Preeti Pawar, Sakshi Chaudhary, Arundhati Choudhary, and Priya Ghanghas. Alongside Berwal, Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and Jadumani Singh secured silver medals.
Overall, India concluded its Commonwealth Games campaign in Glasgow with a total of 39 medals, comprising 13 gold, 17 silver, and nine bronze. This placed India fourth in the overall medal standings. While this tally was lower than India’s consistent medal count in previous editions since 2002, the reduced number of events in Glasgow was a factor. India maintained its streak of finishing within the top five at the Commonwealth Games, a consistent achievement since 2002.
The Glasgow Games concluded after 11 days of competition. During the closing ceremony, Scotland formally handed over the Commonwealth Games flag and ceremonial baton to India. India is set to host the landmark centenary edition of the multi-sport event in Ahmedabad in 2030.
Narender Berwal, an Indian Army junior commissioned officer, has also earned a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Games and is a two-time Asian Championships medallist. His silver medal in Glasgow contributed to India’s successful boxing campaign and the nation’s overall medal count at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Source: hindustantimes.com
