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.
