Prime Minister Narendra Modi met and addressed the medal winners of the recent Asian Games. In his speech, he pointed out how India has won medals in sports they never managed before.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Indian contingent for their display in the 2026 Asian Games, where the country finished fourth in the medal tally for the second consecutive edition. This time around, India won 85 medals, which included 21 golds in the continental event, which took place in Japan’s Aichi and Nagoya.
PM Modi pointed out that in the last 12 years, India has put a lot of work into its sporting ecosystem. Meanwhile, he credited the country for winning medals in sports, they had never stood on the podium before while also hailing the double golds in cricket, Kabaddi, and Hockey. He made the remarks while meeting the medal winners at the Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi.
“The recent Asian Games have been memorable for us in many ways. Both our men’s and women’s hockey teams are present here; both teams have won gold medals and our women’s hockey team, in particular, has ended a long 44-year wait by bringing home the gold. In cricket, both our teams have won medals for the second consecutive time, repeating their own previous record. In kabaddi, both our men’s and women’s teams have won gold. Similarly, we secured five gold medals in archery. We saw a spectacular performance in shooting, and major successes in boxing and wrestling. Our athletes set new records, and we even secured a medal in weightlifting after 28 years.
“For the first time since 1982, India has achieved success in the marathon. This is truly heartening. I would like to especially commend our daughters. Out of the 85 medals India has won, 38 have been secured by our women athletes, including 11 gold medals. These medals are not just mere numbers; they represent a powerful image of a New India. Today, India is winning medals in sports where we had never previously won anything in the history of the Asian Games, such as in Mixed Martial Arts, Soft Tennis, and certain sailing events. Our athletes have created history by winning medals in these disciplines for the first time…Over the last 12 years, India has also worked with great patience, diligence, and dedication to support its sportspersons and its sports ecosystem,” said the Prime Minister.
“More than 36,000 crore rupees have been allocated to expand the Khelo India initiative and strengthen sports federations. Today, over a thousand Khelo India centers have been established across the country. Stadiums, mini-stadiums, and multi-purpose sports halls have been developed. Sports infrastructure including athletic tracks, football grounds, hockey fields, and swimming pool, is being built in cities and towns of all sizes. Under this scheme, athletes are also receiving direct support; they are provided with an ‘out-of-pocket’ allowance. Furthermore, under the ‘TOP’ (Target Olympic Podium) scheme, athletes receive 50,000 rupees per month,” he added.
PM Modi also pointed out that sports was one of the areas where Indian youth were leaving a mark for the world.
“Our success at the Asian Games is also a reflection of the nation’s changing spirit. It serves as an example of how the youth of our country today are eager to reach every pinnacle of achievement. There is no milestone that stands taller than the determination of India’s youth, and no goal that lies beyond the capability of our young power. An infinite horizon of possibilities lies ahead, and it is the youth of India who are charting their own path. This is why, in a remarkably short span of time, India has emerged as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. Our young people are establishing companies in the space sector and working on satellite technology. They are developing new technologies for the defense sector and pioneering innovations in Artificial Intelligence,” PM Modi stated.
