Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Berwal Recounts Pakistani Boxer's 'Hate Narendra' Remark to Modi
An Indian boxer named Narender Berwal won a silver medal at a big sports event called the Commonwealth Games.
After the Games, he met the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
Berwal told the Prime Minister a funny story from his boxing career.
A few years earlier, at the 2015 World Military Games, Berwal beat a boxer from Pakistan.
After the fight, the two boxers were together getting treatment, and the Pakistani boxer said something funny.
He pointed out that Berwal's name is Narender, his coach's name is Narender, and India's Prime Minister is also named Narendra.
He joked that he had started to hate the name 'Narendra' because he heard it so often.
The Prime Minister laughed a lot at the story.
India's boxers won ten medals at the Commonwealth Games, their best result ever.
India will also host the next Commonwealth Games in 2030.
Heavyweight boxer Narender Berwal recounted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi a Pakistani opponent's remark from their 2015 World Military Games bout.
The Pakistani boxer told Berwal he had come to hate the name 'Narendra' because Berwal, his coach, and India's PM all share it.
Berwal won a silver medal in the men's 90+ kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, though one report described it as a gold.
India recorded its best-ever Commonwealth Games boxing performance with a 10-medal haul.
India finished fourth overall with 39 medals and will host the centenary Games in Ahmedabad in 2030.
- Who
- Heavyweight boxer Narender Berwal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and an unnamed Pakistani boxer
- What
- Berwal told PM Modi how the Pakistani boxer he defeated in 2015 said he had grown to hate the name 'Narendra' because Berwal, his coach, and the Prime Minister all share that name.
- When
- The meeting with PM Modi took place on Sunday after the Commonwealth Games 2026; the original bout was at the 2015 World Military Games.
- Where
- PM Modi's residence in New Delhi; the 2015 bout was in Mungyeong, South Korea, and the Commonwealth Games were held in Glasgow.
- Why
- Berwal shared the memorable anecdote while recounting his experiences representing India during PM Modi's congratulatory interaction with the medallists.
- Athlete
- Narender Berwal, Indian heavyweight boxer
- Medal won
- Silver, men's 90+ kg, Commonwealth Games 2026 (one report said gold)
- Anecdote source
- Bout vs Pakistani boxer, 2015 World Military Games, Mungyeong, South Korea
- India's boxing haul
- 10 medals, best-ever at Commonwealth Games
- India's overall tally
- 39 medals (13 gold, 17 silver, 9 bronze), 4th place
- Meeting attendees
- Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, MoS for Sports Raksha Khadse, IOA President P T Usha
- Games duration
- Glasgow Games concluded after 11 days of competition
- Next CWG host
- India, Ahmedabad, 2030 centenary edition
Sources
‘Mujhe Narendra Naam Se Nafrat Ho Gayi’: Narender Berwal Recalls Pakistani Boxer’s Remark To PM Modi | VIDEO
PM Modi left in splits as Narender Berwal recalls Pakistani boxer’s complaint
Berwal’s PAK boxer story makes Modi laugh: ‘Narender naam se nafrat ho gayi hai’
