New Delhi, 10 August (H.S.): Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who won a gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words of encouragement and support will motivate her to work harder and deliver stronger performances in her upcoming competitions.

After meeting Modi, Chanu reflected on her emotional journey and the challenges she had faced over the past four years. She thanked the Prime Minister for his continued support and encouragement for Indian athletes.

In a post on X on Monday, Chanu said, “Thank you, Prime Minister Modi Ji, for your constant support and encouragement throughout our journey. During our special conversation yesterday, your encouraging words for every medallist will definitely inspire us to work harder for our upcoming competitions.”

Chanu won the gold medal in the women’s 48kg weightlifting event at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. However, she said the victory carried an emotional significance that went far beyond the medal itself.

The Manipuri weightlifter recalled the injuries, family difficulties and disappointment of missing out on a medal at the Paris Olympics that she had endured over the past four years.

During his interaction with Chanu, Modi acknowledged the emotions behind her victory and spoke about the significance of her tears after the medal ceremony.

“You have made everyone proud. There were so many tears. I felt as if a gold medal was emerging from every drop of those tears,” Modi told Chanu.

Chanu said returning to the podium brought her immense happiness, but the moment also reminded her of the disappointment she experienced at the Paris Olympics.

“I was very happy and emotional that day. I was extremely happy, and I broke down because I had missed out on a medal at the Paris Olympics. An athlete has to face many things in life, and I have gone through a lot over the past four years,” Chanu said.

Chanu said injuries repeatedly disrupted her career while she was also dealing with difficulties in her personal life.

“I kept suffering injuries repeatedly. At the same time, I was also dealing with family problems. The last four years were very difficult,” she said.

Those hardships made her return to the top of the podium in Glasgow even more meaningful. Chanu recalled becoming overwhelmed with emotion when the Indian flag was raised and the national anthem played after her gold-medal victory.

“When I was standing on the podium, our flag was being raised and the national anthem was being played. I could not control my emotions and broke down in tears,” she said.

Chanu’s Glasgow triumph marked a significant return to the top of the Commonwealth Games podium after a challenging four-year period. She secured the gold despite dealing with physical setbacks and the disappointment of missing out on a medal at the Paris Olympics.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Modi hosted Indian medal winners from the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games at his official residence at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi and congratulated them for their performances.

India concluded its Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign in fourth place on the medal table with 39 medals, comprising 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze medals.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar