Indian Army boxer Mandengbam Jadumani Singh celebrated a remarkable victory at the Commonwealth Games against a Pakistani competitor on Kargil Vijay Diwas. During his discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister praised the outcome and expressed admiration for Singh’s gesture of dedicating his win to the heroes of Kargil.
Event Context
For Jadumani, a significant milestone in the tournament transcended mere progress. On July 26, he faced Pakistan’s Sumama Rehman in the round of 16, a date that coincided with Kargil Vijay Diwas, a day honoring India’s triumph in the 1999 Kargil War.
Representing the Indian Army, Jadumani achieved a decisive 5-0 victory against Rehman, garnering unanimous support from all five judges. Discussing the match with Modi, Jadumani shared that the coincidence of competing against a Pakistani boxer on Kargil Vijay Diwas inspired him further.
“It was Kargil Vijay Diwas. And, sir, the day I faced Pakistan was the same day,” Jadumani expressed to Modi. “As an Indian Army soldier, I was resolute in my determination to win that day. I did it—I defeated Pakistan 5-0 and dedicated my victory to the heroes of our Indian Army in Kargil.”
Modi emphasized the importance of an Army boxer honoring India’s soldiers while competing on an international platform. “Your remembrance, especially since you are also from the forces, along with your heartfelt dedication of the medal to the Kargil victors, added immense pride to that victory,” the Prime Minister remarked.
The Prime Minister further noted the significance of Jadumani’s victory over his opponent. “And you defeated the very opponent who had to be defeated,” Modi said, alluding to Pakistan.
Jadumani’s sentiments echoed his statements made right after his victory over Rehman in Glasgow, where he dedicated the win to the Kargil heroes and expressed pride in overcoming a Pakistani opponent on such a meaningful day.
It is important to clarify that the 5-0 score indicates a unanimous decision by the judges rather than a points tally. Jadumani continued his strong performance following the bout with Pakistan, defeating Zambia’s Mwengo Mwale unanimously in the quarter-finals and Namibia’s Philip Pumulo Mutakela Haoseb by another 5-0 decision in the semi-finals, advancing to the gold-medal match.
Though his unbeaten streak concluded in the final against Australia’s Jye Dixon, who won by unanimous decision, Jadumani’s victory on July 26 remains a standout moment in his Commonwealth Games journey—a testament to an Indian Army boxer achieving a unanimous win against Pakistan on Kargil Vijay Diwas and dedicating that moment to the soldiers it commemorates.
Team Analysis
On Sunday, Prime Minister Modi met with India’s medalists from the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, in New Delhi. Among those in attendance was Jadumani, who earned a silver medal in the men’s 55kg boxing category. The athletes shared their experiences and insights from their respective competitions.
