NEW DELHI: Boxer Lovlina Borgohain’s decision to object to a distorted Indian map during the Commonwealth Games earned special appreciation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the moment as one that would be remembered for a long time.Lovlina, who won silver in the women’s 75kg category in Glasgow, was among India’s medal winners who interacted with Modi at his residence on Sunday. The meeting, attended by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse and Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha, saw athletes recount their experiences from the Games in an informal and emotional setting.In a little over 10-minute video of the interaction shared by the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday, Modi brought up Lovlina’s confrontation with a restaurant in Glasgow after she noticed a distorted Indian map.“Kya hua wo restaurant waale se jhagda kar rahi thi? (What happened, you were fighting with that restaurant guy?)” Modi asked.Lovlina laughed before explaining why she intervened.“We had such a good performance and it was the last day of the Games. It was a happy occasion sir, we were celebrating and I didn’t like it when I saw the distorted map. I politely told them and they have made the changes also,” she explained.
‘That video was not ordinary’
Modi applauded the boxer for noticing the issue despite being in the middle of celebrations after her medal-winning campaign.“To be able to recognise the significance of that map at a time when you were celebrating and the Games were over, I can tell you truthfully, that video was not ordinary. It will be remembered by people for a very long time,” he told the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist.India finished fourth in Glasgow with 39 medals, including 13 golds, with boxing contributing seven gold medals.The interaction also provided an emotional window into Mirabai Chanu’s journey to her gold medal in the women’s 48kg category. The weightlifter produced a Games-record lift of 190kg, but her triumph came after four difficult years following her one-kilogram miss at the Paris Olympics.
Mirabai opens up about four difficult years
Modi asked Mirabai about the tears she shed on the podium and even fed her a laddu during their interaction.“Itne aansu tapak rahe the (So many tears were rolling down),” Modi remarked.Mirabai explained that the tears represented years of accumulated emotions.“I was very happy and emotional at that moment. I was crying because I missed a medal in the Paris Olympics by one kilogram. I have faced a lot in these last four years. I was battling injuries and some family problems too.“There were a lot of things. So, these four years were very tough for me. And when I stood on the podium, our flag went up and the anthem played, it was hard to stop myself,” she said.
Narender’s joke leaves Modi laughing
The meeting also had its lighter moments. Boxer Narender Berwal, who won silver in the +90kg category, recalled a funny exchange with a Pakistani boxer after beating him at the 2015 World Military Games.“During the 2015 World Military Games, I had a bout with a Pakistani boxer. I won it but when we were together in the medical room for treatment to our niggles, he said to me ‘Bhaijan aapka naam Narender hai, aapke coach ka naam Narender hai, aapke Pradhan Mantri ka naam Narender hai, mujhe Narender naam se nafrat ho gayi hai.’ (Brother, you, your coach and your PM are all named Narender. I hate this name now),” he recalled, drawing laughter from Modi.
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The Prime Minister also underlined the broader significance of the athletes’ achievements, saying their medals were helping inspire a new generation.“I have been in this house for 12-13 years now and if there is one group that I have met regularly here, it is the athletes because of your efforts to win medals for India and your tradition of scaling new heights.“Far more than our push to promote sports in schools, it is your medals that inspire people,” Modi said.
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