PM Modi honours Women’s World Cup champions at his New Delhi residence

Continuing his tradition of personally meeting and honouring India’s sporting icons, PM Modi interacted with captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates, congratulating them for etching their names in history.

Under Harmanpreet’s leadership, India clinched its first-ever Women’s World Cup title on Sunday, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling, high-scoring finale in Navi Mumbai — ending decades of near-misses and heartbreaks for Indian women’s cricket.

Though PM Modi was not present at the DY Patil Stadium for the final, he joined millions of Indians in celebrating the victory, lauding the team’s determination and unity in a message shared soon after the match.

Over the years, the Prime Minister has made it a point to personally acknowledge India’s sporting heroes — from Olympic medallists and Paralympic achievers to chess prodigies and cricket champions.

The meeting at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, began around 6 p.m. and lasted a couple of hours.

Head coach Amol Mazumdar and the team, who had flown in from Mumbai on Tuesday night, were warmly received in Delhi.

Upon their arrival at the Taj Palace Hotel, the players were showered with rose petals, and spontaneous celebrations broke out as Jemimah Rodrigues, Radha Yadav and Sneh Rana danced joyfully to the beat of dhols amid cheers from hotel staff and fans.

The Indian team had travelled to Delhi aboard a special Star Air charter flight (S5-8328), with security tightened in the capital ahead of their arrival.

Back in Navi Mumbai, the celebrations had begun right after India’s momentous win.

Families joined the players on the field for emotional scenes — captain Harmanpreet Kaur was seen embracing her father after taking the match-winning catch that sealed the title.

The squad also paid tribute to women’s cricket pioneers Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, and Anjum Chopra, inviting them to lift the trophy and join in the lap of honour around the DY Patil Stadium.

Head coach Amol Mazumdar, too, was greeted with affection upon returning to his Mumbai residence a day earlier.

Neighbours, many of them women, formed a symbolic “guard of honour” with raised cricket bats — a fitting tribute to the man who guided India to an unforgettable World Cup victory.

Plans for an official victory parade are yet to be announced, but India’s women cricketers have already earned their place in the nation’s sporting history — and in the hearts of millions of fans.