Modi laughs at boxer's story of Pakistani rival's name complaint

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laughed heartily on Sunday as Indian boxer Narender Berwal recounted a humorous exchange with a Pakistani opponent during a meeting with India's Commonwealth Games 2026 medal winners. The interaction took place at the Prime Minister's residence in New Delhi, where Modi hosted the contingent to celebrate their performance in Glasgow.

Berwal, who won a silver medal in the men's 90kg boxing category, shared an anecdote from the 2015 World Military Games. He recalled that after defeating a Pakistani boxer in a tough opening-round bout that left both fighters needing stitches, his opponent made a rueful observation in the hospital. The Pakistani boxer noted that Berwal's name was Narender, his coach's name was also Narender, and India's Prime Minister was Narendra Modi. He then delivered the punchline: "I have started hating the name Narendra."

The story, which was captured in a video shared by the Prime Minister, showed Modi and others laughing as Berwal delivered the line. The boxer explained that his military colleagues had stressed the importance of the match before he entered the ring, telling him he could not lose to a Pakistani opponent. He won the...