Pakistani boxer’s aversion to ‘Narendra’ name shared with Prime Minister Modi

By Rohan Gupta — 10 August 2026 — 3 min read

Indian boxer Narender Berwal recently shared a humorous anecdote with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an interaction with Commonwealth Games medallists. The story involved a Pakistani opponent who developed a strong dislike for the name ‘Narendra’ after discovering its prevalence in Berwal’s life.

The incident occurred after Berwal defeated the Pakistani boxer at the 2015 World Military Games. Following the bout, both boxers required medical attention for cuts sustained when their heads collided. During this time, the Pakistani boxer expressed his frustration, noting that Berwal, Berwal’s coach, and the Indian Prime Minister all shared the name Narendra.

Berwal recounted the Pakistani boxer’s exact words, stating, “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.” This translates to, “Your name is Narender, your coach’s name is Narender, your Prime Minister’s name is Narendra. I have come to hate the name ‘Narendra’.” The anecdote reportedly drew laughter from Prime Minister Modi.

Commonwealth Games achievements

The interaction took place on Sunday at Prime Minister Modi‘s residence in New Delhi, where he met with Indian athletes who had earned medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026. Berwal himself was a medallist, having secured a silver medal in the men’s 90+ kg boxing category at the Games held in Glasgow.

India’s performance in boxing at the Commonwealth Games 2026 was notable, achieving its best-ever medal haul in the sport. The Indian boxing contingent secured a total of 10 medals, surpassing the previous record of six gold medals jointly held by England in 1934 and 2018, and Canada in 1986. This included seven gold and three silver medals in boxing.

Overall, India concluded its Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign with a total of 39 medals. This tally comprised 13 gold, 17 silver, and nine bronze medals, placing India fourth in the overall medal standings. The Games, which spanned 11 days of competition, saw Scotland formally transfer the Commonwealth Games flag and ceremonial baton to India.

Reactions and future hosting

The anecdote shared by Narender Berwal quickly gained attention, with Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya reacting to it on social media. Mandaviya posted on X, stating in Hindi, “Narendra naam ka khauf hai Pakistan mein,” which translates to, “The name ‘Narendra’ is feared in Pakistan.” This comment referred to the impact of the name ‘Narendra’ as highlighted by the Pakistani boxer’s remarks.

The video of Berwal’s interaction with Prime Minister Modi, including the humorous recounting of the incident, was shared on the Prime Minister’s YouTube channel and other social media platforms, contributing to its widespread circulation. The names Narendra and Narender are considered variations of the same name, with differences in spelling often attributed to regional phonetics, such as Berwal being from Haryana and Modi from Gujarat.

Looking ahead, India is slated to host the landmark centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030. The multi-sport event is planned to take place in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which is the home state of both Prime Minister Modi and minister Mandaviya.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com