Indian boxer Narender Berwal shared a humorous story about a Pakistani opponent that left Prime Minister Narendra Modi laughing during a meeting on Sunday.
The interaction highlights the personal rapport between India's top athletes and the government following a period of significant international sporting success.
During the meeting at the Prime Minister's residence in New Delhi, Berwal recounted a bout from the 2015 World Military Games [2]. According to Berwal, his Pakistani opponent expressed a sudden dislike for his name after losing the fight.
“Mujhe Narendra naam se nafrat ho gayi hai,” the boxer said, which translates to “I have started to hate the name Narendra” [1].
Prime Minister Modi reacted with laughter to the anecdote. “It’s great to hear these stories from our athletes,” Modi said [2].
Berwal is a silver medalist in the men’s 90+ kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 [3]. The athlete used the meeting to celebrate India's broader success in the ring, noting that the nation has achieved its best-ever boxing haul at the Glasgow Games [3].
While the anecdote dates back to 2015, the timing of the meeting follows the conclusion of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Berwal's silver medal performance contributed to a historic run for the Indian boxing team on the international stage [3].
““Mujhe Narendra naam se nafrat ho gayi hai.””
The exchange underscores the use of sports diplomacy and personal anecdotes to soften the often-tense geopolitical narrative between India and Pakistan. By highlighting a moment of sporting rivalry that ended in a joke shared with the head of government, the interaction frames athletic competition as a space for human connection despite national tensions.
