Boxer Narender Berwal recalled his encounter with a Pakistani opponent at the 2015 World Military Games, where he had defeated him. NEW DELHI: A Pakistani boxer who had “started hating” the name ‘Narendra’ after discovering that his Indian opponent, his coach and India’s PM all shared the name drew laughs as Narendra Modi interacted with India’s Commonwealth Games medallists Sunday.Boxer Narender Berwal recalled his encounter with a Pakistani opponent at the 2015 World Military Games, where he had defeated him. “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,” Berwal recalled, triggering laughter from Modi and the athletes.Modi particularly lauded Lovlina Borgohain, silver medallist in the women’s 75kg boxing event, for raising a map issue on the final day of the Glasgow Games. The Indian contingent had gone out to celebrate when she had noticed that a map of India at the restaurant did not show the North-East. Lovlina said she brought the error to the attention of the restaurant staff, following which they agreed to correct it.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesModi said the fact that she noticed and acted on it even in the middle of celebrations made the gesture significant and one that would be remembered for a long time.Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who won gold in the women’s 48kg category, provided one of the more emotional moments. Modi asked her about the tears she shed on the podium after her victory.She said the medal came after four difficult years marked by injuries, family problems and the disappointment of missing a medal at the Paris Olympics by just one kilogram. “When our flag goes up and our national anthem plays, we cannot stop ourselves,” she told Modi, explaining why she broke down on the podium.Modi told the medallists that their performances were capable of drawing far more children towards sport than campaigns alone. “Your medal inspires them more than anything we could say by going to schools,” he said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Only Dialogue Can Solve This’: Rahul Gandhi Backs Peaceful Jharkhand Student Protest | WatchJharkhand Students Storm Assembly Gates Amid Tear Gas, Lathicharge As ED Probe Intensifies Exam RowBihar Man Posed As IAS Officer, Claimed Doval Link; Police Seize Tesla, SUV And Imported Liquor’Mujhe Narendra Naam Se Nafrat Ho Gayi Hai’: PM Modi Interacts With India’s CWG Champions | Watch109 Years Later, MP Man Gets U.K. Response On War Loan ClaimSupriya Sule Says No Politics In PM Modi Meet As NCP-SP MPs Raise Maharashtra’s Key Demands‘Hitting Us On Head, Face’: Police Lathi-Charge Students During Assembly Gherao March In JharkhandModi Govt Going Slow On FCRA Bill To Woo Stalin’s DMK, Sharad Pawar’s NCP-SP For Delimitation?Jharkhand Showdown: Protesters Set To Gherao State Assembly; Demand JSSC-CGL Cancellation, CBI ProbeAgni-4 Missile Fills Crucial Range Gap, Bolsters India’s Strategic Deterrence Against China123PhotostoriesWhen Ankita Lokhande Recalled Her Pavitra Rishta Days: From not going home for 3 months, taking showers on set to washing and rewearing the same undergarmentsPrincess Diana to Grace Kelly: Popular fashion muses behind luxury’s most iconic handbags”… served non-stop with coconut chutney and a tub of…”: Vicky Kaushal on his go-to me-time meal beyond parathas; recipes inside10 beautiful baby names that mean “blessing from God”Optical illusions and personality test: What you spot first reveals your hidden personality traitsWhat happens when you consume Tulsi leaves daily? 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NEW DELHI: A Pakistani boxer who had “started hating” the name ‘Narendra’ after discovering that his Indian opponent, his coach and India’s PM all shared the name drew laughs as Narendra Modi interacted with India’s Commonwealth Games medallists Sunday.Boxer Narender Berwal recalled his encounter with a Pakistani opponent at the 2015 World Military Games, where he had defeated him. “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,” Berwal recalled, triggering laughter from Modi and the athletes.Modi particularly lauded Lovlina Borgohain, silver medallist in the women’s 75kg boxing event, for raising a map issue on the final day of the Glasgow Games. The Indian contingent had gone out to celebrate when she had noticed that a map of India at the restaurant did not show the North-East. Lovlina said she brought the error to the attention of the restaurant staff, following which they agreed to correct it.
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Modi said the fact that she noticed and acted on it even in the middle of celebrations made the gesture significant and one that would be remembered for a long time.Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who won gold in the women’s 48kg category, provided one of the more emotional moments. Modi asked her about the tears she shed on the podium after her victory.She said the medal came after four difficult years marked by injuries, family problems and the disappointment of missing a medal at the Paris Olympics by just one kilogram. “When our flag goes up and our national anthem plays, we cannot stop ourselves,” she told Modi, explaining why she broke down on the podium.Modi told the medallists that their performances were capable of drawing far more children towards sport than campaigns alone. “Your medal inspires them more than anything we could say by going to schools,” he said.
