Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended his best wishes to the Indian contingent participating in the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, expressing the nation's hopes that the athletes deliver outstanding performances and make the country proud.
PM Modi's Message to Athletes
Speaking during the 136th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi said, "A few days ago, the Commonwealth Games started in Glasgow. Every countryman is continuously extending their best wishes to the Indian contingent. Their wish is that every player and athlete delivers an outstanding performance and wins people's hearts."
India has fielded a contingent of more than 120 athletes across eight able-bodied sports and five para sports, aiming to add to its rich legacy at the multi-sport event. The Games are being held from July 23 to August 2.
India's Performance So Far
India enjoyed another encouraging day on Saturday, with boxer Sachin Siwach progressing to the pre-quarterfinals. The women's lawn bowls duo of Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh maintained their unbeaten run, moving closer to a semifinal berth. A day earlier, para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar opened India's medal tally with a bronze medal, marking a promising start for the contingent.
Indian athletes delivered several promising performances across boxing, lawn bowls and gymnastics. However, the day also brought setbacks in swimming and wheelchair basketball. Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu is set to begin her campaign on Sunday, and India will aim to carry forward the momentum and add to its medal haul.
Unique Initiative: Aksharakanduka
PM Modi also highlighted a unique initiative called 'Aksharakanduka' in Kerala, where a teacher and a Sanskrit club are promoting the language by connecting Sanskrit letters with football-related words to make learning simple and engaging. "I learned about a sports initiative in South Chittoor, Ernakulam, Kerala. A school there has a Sanskrit club. Teacher Abhilash is popularising Sanskrit in a unique way. This project is called 'Aksharakanduka'. It explains Sanskrit letters in a simple way by linking them to words used in football," PM Modi added.
This initiative reflects the innovative efforts to blend sports and education, making language learning more accessible and enjoyable for students.
