Sports Minister Mandaviya Felicitates CWG 2026 Medallists

• Boxing, judo and para-athletics medallists felicitated in New Delhi.
• Gold medallists received ₹30 lakh, silver winners ₹20 lakh and bronze winners ₹10 lakh.
• Mandaviya urged athletes to establish sports academies after retirement.
• Sports Minister called on medallists to target more golds at the 2026 Asian Games.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 4th Aug: Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday felicitated Indian medallists from boxing, judo and para-athletics following their successful campaign at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, and urged them to mentor the next generation of sporting talent.

During the felicitation ceremony in New Delhi, the medal winners were presented cash awards of ₹30 lakh for gold, ₹20 lakh for silver and ₹10 lakh for bronze.

Congratulating the athletes, Mandaviya said their contribution to Indian sport should continue beyond their competitive careers. He encouraged them to establish sports academies after retirement and use their experience to nurture emerging athletes.

“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,” Mandaviya said, stressing that their mission should remain “India first”.

₹36,000 Crore Khelo India Push
Mandaviya highlighted the government’s expanded Khelo India scheme, saying an investment of ₹36,000 crore would support sustained growth of Indian sports in the coming years.

“While you were playing for the gold in Glasgow, we launched the expanded Khelo India scheme by investing a total of ₹36,000 crore,” he told the athletes.

Looking ahead to the 2026 Asian Games, Mandaviya urged the medallists to build on the momentum generated in Glasgow.

He called on silver and bronze medallists to strive for gold, while asking gold medallists to maintain their level of performance at upcoming international competitions.

The Sports Minister also highlighted the role of coaches in athletes’ success and urged sportspersons to always recognise their contribution.

Boxers Return With 10 Medals
India topped the Commonwealth Games boxing medal tally with 10 medals — seven gold and three silver.

Preeti Pawar, Jaismine Lamboria, Sakshi Chaudhary, Priya Ghanghas, Arundhati Choudhary, Sachin Siwach and Ankush Panghal won gold medals, while Jadumani Singh, Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and Narender Berwal secured silver.

The seven gold medals also marked the best-ever performance by Indian women boxers at the Commonwealth Games.

Indian judokas, meanwhile, recorded the country’s best-ever Commonwealth Games performance in the discipline, winning two gold, one silver and one bronze from 12 events.

Khelo India athletes Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh made history by becoming India’s first Commonwealth Games gold medallists in judo. Asmita became the first Indian woman judoka to win CWG gold, while Harsh became the first Indian male judoka to achieve the feat.

The government said medal-winning athletes across disciplines had received support through Khelo India, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition, along with national camps, international exposure, equipment and training assistance.