‘Narendra naam se nafrat’: Berwal’s Pak boxer story leaves PM Modi laughing
Indian boxer Narender Berwal shared an anecdote with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about a Pakistani opponent who was frustrated by the prevalence of the name 'Narendra' in India. The interaction occurred during a celebration of India's successful Commonwealth Games performance.
Why it matters
Reflects the cultural and political atmosphere surrounding India-Pakistan sporting relations and the public image of the Indian Prime Minister.
NEW DELHI: A Pakistani boxer's unusual reaction after losing to Indian heavyweight Narender Berwal left Prime Minister Narendra Modi amused during an interaction with India's Commonwealth Games 2026 medallists on Sunday.Berwal, who won silver in the men's 90+kg category in Glasgow, recalled an incident from his boxing career when he defeated a Pakistani opponent at the 2015 World Military Games. The boxer said his opponent was left bewildered by the repeated appearance of the name 'Narender' in his life.‘Mujhe Narendra naam se nafrat ho gayi hai’Recalling the exchange with Modi, Berwal said: “Pakistani boxer said to me, 'Aapka naam Narender hai, aapke coach ka naam Narender hai, aapke Pradhan Mantri ka naam Narendra hai. Mujhe Narendra naam se nafrat ho gayi hai'...”The anecdote was part of a light-hearted interaction between Modi and India's medal winners at his residence in New Delhi.
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