Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated Indian athletes who returned from the Commonwealth Games 2026 after delivering historic performances in boxing, judo, and para-athletics. The felicitation ceremony brought together members of the Indian boxing contingent, which topped the boxing medal tally with an impressive haul of 10 medals including seven gold and three silver. The judo contingent scripted India's best-ever Commonwealth Games campaign in the discipline by securing four medals including two historic golds, while the para-athletics contingent delivered outstanding performances in Glasgow marking a watershed moment for Indian para sport.
Medal winners were presented cash awards of ₹30 lakh for gold, ₹20 lakh for silver, and ₹10 lakh for bronze. Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the government's expanded Khelo India scheme backed by a ₹36,000 crore investment, which aims to ensure sustained growth of Indian sports in the coming years. He encouraged athletes to consider establishing sports academies and nurturing young talent after retirement, moving beyond the traditional aim of securing government jobs through sports achievements.
The Minister urged athletes to maintain momentum for the Asian Games 2026, asking silver and bronze medalists to strive for gold and gold medalists to sustain their level of excellence. He specifically acknowledged the contribution of coaches, emphasizing that athletes should never forget their coaches' guidance. The medal-winning athletes benefited from government support through Khelo India, TOPS, and Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC) programmes, including national camps at SAI NCOEs, international competition exposure, equipment, and training support.