The India contingent at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games finished 4th on the rankings having won 61 medals (22 gold, 16 silver and 23 bronze). The Commonwealth Games returnees were hosted by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi at his residence where he interacted with and appreciated players for putting on a memorable show at the Games.
Weightlifter Sanket Sargar was India’s first medal winner of the edition, he clinched silver in the men’s 55kg event and it was Mirabai Chanu who won the first gold medal.
The Indian women’s cricket team finished 2nd on the podium after their defeat to Australia in a teasing thriller and settled for a silver medal. The women’s hockey team won the Bronze medal after defeating New Zealand and the men’s hockey too settled for the silver after their defeat to Australia.
The Wrestling unit topped the medal chart with 12 medals, including six gold and the weightlifting bagged a total of 10 medals. This collective performance by India was their 5th best of all time in Commonwealth Games history with the best being a total of 101 medals when the Games were held at home in 2010.
PM, Narendra Modi, in his welcome statement, said, “I am happy that all of you have taken time out of your schedule to come to meet me at my residence as members of the family. I, just like all other Indians, feel proud to be talking to you. I welcome you all. He continued, “This is just the beginning for our Yuva Shakti, the Golden age of Indian sports has just begun! In the past few weeks, the nation recorded two major achievements in the field of sports. Besides historic performance in CWG, for the first time country hosted Chess Olympiad.”
PM Modi said during his speech, “It is just a start and we are not going to just sit quietly, golden period of Indian sports is knocking on the doors. Not only are we strengthening the sports that we have been strong in but have also left a mark in new sports. In hockey we trying to get our legacy back.” In addition to new sports at the Games schedule and India performing well in then, had PM Modi say, “Since last time, we have won medals in four new sports, from lawn bowls to athletics, outperformance has been spectacular. This performance will help increase youth’s interest in new sports. We have to improve our performance in new sports.”
On Indian women’s cricket team’s performance at the Commonwealth Games, PM Modi quoted, “Under Harmanpreet’s leadership, India has produced a fantastic performance in cricket. All players have done well but no one had the antidote to Renuka’s swing bowling. It is not a small feat to be the top wicket-taker among the greats.”
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— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 13, 2022
PM Modi congratulated all related to the Chess community. He’d said, “The country not only successfully hosted (Chess Olympiad) but continuing its rich tradition in Chess, gave its best performance. I also congratulate all players who participated and those who won medals at the Chess Olympiad.” He added, “Before commencement of Commonwealth Games, I had told you & promised you in a way that when you come back we’ll celebrate Vijayotsav together. I was confident that you’ll come back victorious, I had also thought of meeting you even if I would be busy & celebrate Vijayotsav.”
For India to have achieved 61 medals this time around has been work very well done. India’s most successful discipline historically is in Shooting with 135 medals and had that not been excluded from the Commonwealth Games we could have had a much better medal count.