Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted India's Commonwealth Games champions for an interaction at his residence, noting that he regularly receives athletes more than any other group. He praised their achievements for inspiring future generations more effectively than school campaigns, creating a sports culture in the country. Multiple athletes shared emotional stories of their journeys, with one female athlete revealing she faced continuous injuries and family problems over four years after narrowly missing an Olympic medal by 1kg, making her CWG victory particularly emotional when hearing the national anthem on the podium.
Another athlete from the Indian Army dedicated her 5-0 victory over Pakistan to Kargil war heroes, coincidentally fighting on Kargil Vijay Diwas. She mentioned that military officials specifically instructed her not to lose to Pakistan. A boxer shared an anecdote from the 2015 World Military Games where he defeated a Pakistani opponent 4-1 and 3-2 in rounds, with both requiring hospital stitches afterward, and his coach humorously developed a dislike for the name 'Narendra' after working with multiple people with that name including the Prime Minister.
Athletes consistently credited government initiatives for their success, specifically highlighting the Khelo India scheme which they said is bringing significant changes to Indian sports and producing young athletes. One athlete mentioned receiving scheme benefits after winning silver in the first Khelo India games in 2018. Training infrastructure improvements were noted, with athletes specifically praising facilities in Varanasi (where one athlete trained for 10-12 days and wishes to settle near Kashi Vishwanath temple), Bhopal, and Ujjain (near Mahakal temple). The Sports Authority of India (SAI) was also credited for providing crucial support that enabled athletes to reach their competitive level.