Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday reacted to Indian boxer Narender Berwal’s anecdote about a Pakistani opponent, saying in a post on X that the name “Narendra” is feared in Pakistan. Mandaviya’s comment came after Berwal narrated the story during his interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter’s residence in New Delhi on Sunday. The exchange, which was captured on video and subsequently circulated widely, left Modi laughing as the boxer recalled an unusual conversation following a bout between the two fighters.
Mandaviya wrote, “Narendra naam ka khauf hai Pakistan mein,” in Hindi, which translates to, “The name ‘Narendra’ is feared in Pakistan.” The sports minister was referring to Berwal’s account of an incident involving a Pakistani boxer at the 2015 World Military Games. Berwal did not identify his opponent by name, but recalled how the boxer reacted after losing their contest. According to Berwal, the incident eventually resulted in a humorous exchange between the two athletes while they were receiving medical treatment after the bout.
Berwal said the contest had been physically demanding and that both fighters suffered cuts when their heads collided during the match. Following the bout, the two boxers were taken to hospital for treatment. It was during this period, Berwal recalled, that his Pakistani opponent made the remark about his name. The Indian boxer said the opponent told him that he had started to hate the name “Narendra” after the defeat. Berwal’s recollection prompted laughter from Modi, who appeared amused by the story as the boxer recounted the episode from more than a decade earlier.
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The anecdote came during a meeting between Modi and Indian athletes who had competed at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Berwal was among the medal-winning Indian sportspersons invited to the Prime Minister’s residence for the interaction. The boxer secured a silver medal in the men’s 90kg category at the Games, adding another significant achievement to his international career. His performance was part of India’s campaign at the multi-sport event, where athletes from the country competed across several disciplines.
The meeting provided the athletes an opportunity to share their experiences from the Commonwealth Games and speak directly with the Prime Minister. While the interaction included discussion of their sporting achievements, Berwal’s account of his 2015 bout stood out for its lighter and more personal nature. His description of the conversation with the Pakistani boxer also illustrated how sporting contests can sometimes produce memorable moments beyond the result recorded in the ring. The story drew attention online after footage of the interaction circulated, with Mandaviya subsequently amplifying the anecdote through his social media post.
Mandaviya’s reaction focused on the humorous reference to Berwal’s name rather than the sporting rivalry itself. His Hindi post quickly drew attention because of its reference to Pakistan and the unusual anecdote involving the Indian boxer. The minister’s response came amid wider public recognition of India’s Commonwealth Games medal winners following their return from Glasgow. Berwal’s silver-medal performance in the 90kg category has been among the notable achievements highlighted during the athletes’ interaction with the Prime Minister.
The episode also demonstrated the informal side of the meeting between Modi and the athletes. Rather than discussing only medals, performances and preparations, the interaction included personal recollections from the competitors. Berwal’s story from the 2015 World Military Games offered one such moment, connecting a past boxing encounter with his recent Commonwealth Games success. For Mandaviya, the anecdote provided an opportunity for a brief social-media response that played on the boxer’s account. The episode has since become one of the more light-hearted moments associated with the athletes’ meeting with the Prime Minister.
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