Glasgow glory and beyond
India’s performance at the Commonwealth Games 2026 is an achievement that deserves recognition. It signed off fourth with a total 39 medals. The performance, particularly in boxing, athletics and para-sports have brought pride to the nation. For athletics, it was the opportunity to test the mettle at an international competition which includes the Asian Games, taking place in Nagoya, Japan. With the CWG 2030 set to be hosted home, the country has a rare opportunity and an obligation to raise its sporting ambitions far beyond a top-four finish. The real test of ‘Khelo India’ will not be the number of medals won in Glasgow, but whether it can build a sustainable sporting ecosystem by the time India hosts the CWG. That requires stronger state participation, professional coaching, regular domestic competition, and greater private-sector investment alongside government support. Again, the CWG 2030 should not be viewed simply as a chance to host a prestigious international event. They must become a catalyst for transforming Indian sport.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Democratic values
When students and young people protesting alleged NEET irregularities were forcefully dispersed by the Delhi Police, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained silent. Critics alleged excessive force, including pellet guns, batons and tear gas, and claimed women protestors were manhandled and molested. As the Delhi Police functions under the Union Home Ministry, his silence was seen by critics as tacit approval. Later, Hindutva and RSS ideologue TG Mohandas reportedly advocated firing on protestors and made objectionable remarks about secular-minded women, yet the Prime Minister did not publicly reprimand him. However, he later said he had forgiven women protestors who had verbally attacked him. Reports say a minor girl who criticised him faced an FIR before he forgave her. Rather than expecting gratitude, he should address concerns over the protests. Do such developments strengthen or weaken India’s democratic values?
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
Protests and FIRs
The police have filed an FIR against the 15-year-old girl whose video of hurling the choicest of adjectives to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah went viral. Apparently Modi has ‘forgiven’ her. Will the police now withdraw the FIR? If they do, then is that not contrary to what the Supreme Court has said, that FIRs will continue? If the FIR against her can be withdrawn, then why not withdraw all FIRs against all students across the country? Or should each and everyone of those against whom FIRs have been filed also make invective-filled videos against Modi and Shah and then get Modi to ‘forgive’ them to get their FIRs withdrawn? Is that what Modi wants?
Rekha Sarin, Benaulim
New badminton star
17-year-old Indian shuttler Tanvi Sharma has made history by winning her first BWF world tour title at the age of 17. Tanvi strode past all her opponents with ease to win the Taipei open super 300 championship. Obviously her coach, former South Korean player Park Tae-sang, who also coached PV Sindhu earlier, has had a major role in moulding Tanvi’s young but flourishing career. Besides, a five-year stint at a very young age of seven, at the Gopichand badminton academy, seems to have helped her in polishing the rough edges in her game. That Tanvi placed her gold medal around Park Tae-sang’s neck after scoring the championship point says it all. A former world junior number one, Tanvi has a long career ahead of her. Sindhu has lauded her skills and stroke play. With more exposure and experience, and with a good head on her shoulders, the young girl from Punjab is bound to go places.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Money power
The Adani Group has pledged a $10 billion investment in United States infrastructure and energy projects, aimed at creating 15,000 jobs. The US administration has moved to dismiss criminal fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani in a case where he is accused of bribing Indian officials for as much as $265 million to secure contracts and lying to US investors to land a solar energy project in India, allegations that his company has long denied. Now it is the turn of the other fat cat. The Ambanis’ investment coincided with the family’s securing major US policy wins that their company, Reliance Industries, had been lobbying for. ‘Reliance goes from Trump foe to friend with refinery pledge’, ran the Bloomberg headline after the deal was announced. Reliance’s intent with the deal was to ‘smooth out’ tensions between the US and India, the outlet reported. Money talks everywhere in this world.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
