PM Modi Highlights Century of Sporting Ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday underscored that sports have consistently served as a robust bridge between India and New Zealand, as both nations commemorate 100 years of vibrant sporting relations in 2026. Modi made the remarks during his visit to Auckland, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in four decades, as part of a three-nation tour that also included Indonesia and Australia.
In a post on X, Modi stated, "Sports have always been a strong bridge between India and New Zealand. This year, we are also marking a century of vibrant sporting ties." He also highlighted the role of technology and creativity in transforming sports and strengthening bilateral relations.
Sporting Showcase Highlights Innovation
Modi attended a Sporting Showcase alongside New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, where they observed cutting-edge sporting innovations. "It was wonderful to see how technology and creativity are shaping the future of sports while bringing our two nations even closer," Modi added in his post.
The showcase featured a range of advanced sporting technologies, reflecting the shared commitment to leveraging innovation for sports development.
Joint Action Plan on Sport Unveiled
Earlier in the day, Modi attended a Gala Lunch hosted by Luxon, where he reiterated that the newly launched India-New Zealand Joint Action Plan on Sport would expand cooperation beyond cricket. "To increase cooperation in other sports along with cricket, we have created a Sports Joint Action Plan. A good start has been made recently with a coaching program by New Zealand Rugby and Rugby India in Bhubaneswar," Modi said.
Thanking his counterpart, Modi remarked, "Prime Minister Luxon, I thank you for your friendship, your commitment, and for making my New Zealand journey memorable. Just as teamwork and trust are necessary in rugby, we too will move forward with mutual trust. We are on the same team, so we will tackle only the challenges."
Rugby Coaching Programme in Bhubaneswar
The sporting partnership gained momentum through a two-day high-performance coaching programme jointly organised by Rugby India and New Zealand Rugby at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar in May 2026. Conducted under the Memorandum of Cooperation on Sport signed between the two governments, the initiative brought together Indian coaches for classroom sessions, practical demonstrations, and workshops led by New Zealand Rugby experts.
According to the India-New Zealand Joint Statement, both Prime Ministers welcomed celebrations marking '100 Years of Unity Through Sport' in 2026. They endorsed the India-New Zealand Joint Action Plan on Sport as a framework to strengthen cooperation in high-performance sport, coaching, sports science, participation, sports business, and exchanges between national sporting organisations.
