Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi hosted the victorious Women's World Cup champions at his residence on Lok Kalyan Marg to personally congratulate them.
PM Modi hosts and congratulates India women's World Cup 2025 champions team
The Prime Minister lauded the team for their resilience, specifically praising their remarkable comeback in the tournament after facing a challenging string of three defeats and subsequent social media trolling. The team’s spirit and tenacity in securing the historic victory were a key focus of the discussion.
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Players share inspiration and aspirations
In response to the felicitation, team members shared their sentiments and aspirations. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur recalled meeting the Prime Minister in 2017 without the trophy and expressed the team's wish to continue meeting him more often now that they have returned as champions. Vice-Captain Smriti Mandhana credited the Prime Minister for being an inspiration and motivating them, noting that his efforts have helped girls succeed in all fields today. All-rounder Deepti Sharma, who was excited to meet the PM, reminisced about their 2017 meeting where he encouraged them to keep working hard to achieve their dreams.
The meeting also featured several personal and lighthearted exchanges. PM Modi discussed Deepti Sharma's 'Jai Shri Ram' mention on her Instagram and the Bhagwan Hanuman tattoo on her arm, which she affirmed gives her strength. Harmanpreet Kaur asked the PM for his secret to always remaining in the present, to which he replied it had become a practiced habit. The Prime Minister also brought up Harleen Deol's famous 2021 catch against England, which he had praised on social media, and discussed Captain Kaur’s decision to pocket the match ball after the final. Finally, upon hearing that Kranti Gaud's brother was a big fan, the PM immediately extended an open invitation for him to visit.
Concluding the interaction, PM Modi tasked the World Champions with a vital public service message, to champion the 'Fit India' initiative, especially among girls across the country, highlighting the growing problem of obesity and the importance of fitness. He also encouraged the players to visit their schools to share their experiences and motivate young minds there, inspiring the next generation of champions.