India has featured in 18 editions of the Commonwealth Games, winning more than 500 medals across all sports.
India first participated in 1934, when the event was known as the British Empire Games. The country’s first-ever medal came through Rashid Anwar, who won bronze in the men’s 74kg freestyle wrestling event.
1) Milkha Singh: The first athletics gold came at the 1958 Commonwealth Games. India won two gold medals overall—Milkha Singh produced an iconic victory in the men’s 400m, while Lila Ram won gold in wrestling.
After Milkha’s triumph, India had to wait 52 years for its next Commonwealth Games athletics gold.
2) Krishna Poonia – 2010 Commonwealth Games (Discus Throw)
Competing in front of the home crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, Krishna Poonia won gold with a throw of 61.51m. It was India’s first athletics gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 42 years. The achievement was made even more memorable as India completed a podium sweep in the women’s discus throw by winning gold, silver, and bronze.
3) India’s Women’s 4x400m Relay – 2010 Commonwealth Games
The quartet of Ashwini Akkunji, Sini Jose, Manjeet Kaur, and Mandeep Kaur won gold in front of the home crowd, clocking 3:27.77 to claim the Commonwealth title in New Delhi.
4) Vikas Gowda – 2014 Commonwealth Games (Discus Throw)
One of India’s greatest field athletes and the country’s most successful male discus thrower, Vikas Gowda won gold in the men’s discus throw with a mark of 63.64m. After settling for silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, he returned four years later to claim the title. With this victory, he became the first Indian man to win a Commonwealth Games athletics gold medal since Milkha Singh in 1958.
5) Neeraj Chopra – 2018 Commonwealth Games (Javelin Throw)
Neeraj Chopra created history at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast by becoming the first Indian to win the men’s javelin throw gold medal at the Games. He secured the title with a season-best throw of 86.47m. He is also set to represent India in the upcoming Commonwealth Games in the javelin throw.
6) Eldhose Paul – 2022 Commonwealth Games (Triple Jump)
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Kerala’s Eldhose Paul won gold in the men’s triple jump with a wind-assisted 17.03m. Fellow Indian Abdulla Aboobacker claimed silver with 17.02m, making it an Indian one-two finish. Eldhose’s winning margin was just one centimetre, making it one of the closest finishes in Commonwealth Games history for the event.
Comparison Table 1958 → 2010 → 2010 → 2014 → 2018 → 2022
| Year | Athlete/Team | Event | Performance | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Milkha Singh | 400m | Gold | Cardiff |
| 2010 | Krishna Poonia | Discus Throw | 61.51m | New Delhi |
| 2010 | India Women’s Relay | 4×400m | 3:27.77 | New Delhi |
| 2014 | Vikas Gowda | Discus Throw | 63.64m | Glasgow |
| 2018 | Neeraj Chopra | Javelin Throw | 86.47m | Gold Coast |
| 2022 | Eldhose Paul | Triple Jump | 17.03m | Birmingham |
For more visit Commonwealth Games 2026
India will field an exciting duo in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games 2026, with Yashas Palaksha and T. Santhosh carrying the nation’s hopes in one of the most competitive track events in Glasgow.
Both athletes have enjoyed breakthrough seasons in 2026, producing career-best performances that have elevated them into the upper ranks of Commonwealth contenders. Yashas Palaksha has clocked a lifetime best of 49.00s, while T. Santhosh has followed closely with 49.06s. These performances rank as India’s second-fastest and third-fastest men’s 400m hurdles times of all time, underlining the rapid progress made by the pair.
Among athletes selected for the Commonwealth Games, Yashas is ranked 10th this season, while Santhosh occupies 12th position. The season rankings are headed by Assinie Wilson of Jamaica with 48.29s, followed by Kemorena Tisang of Botswana at 48.32s, Dennick Luke of Great Britain with 48.37s, and Australia’s Jake Minshull, who has recorded 48.53s. Great Britain’s Seamus Derbyshire (48.71s) and Kenya’s Kipkorir Rotich (48.99s) are also among the leading contenders heading into the Games.
Although the competition promises to be fierce, India’s representatives have shown consistent improvement throughout the season. Their ability to break the 49.10-second barrier reflects the growing standard of Indian men’s 400m hurdles and provides optimism ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
The inclusion of only athletes who have been officially selected by their respective countries offers a realistic picture of the field that will compete in Glasgow. Within that group, both Yashas and Santhosh have established themselves as capable finalists with the potential to challenge the leading athletes.
As they prepare for the biggest competition of their season, Yashas Palaksha and T. Santhosh will look to build on their breakthrough campaigns and translate their career-best performances into success on the Commonwealth stage.
| The 2026 season is going as well as it possibly could for Indian athletics. Although the major international championships are yet to begin, the performances of Indian athletes at the domestic level have been sending a strong message on the global stage.
Indian athletics has witnessed a magnificent 26 national records this season, even though the year is only halfway through. Here is a detailed look at all the national records: 1) Ram Baboo (Marathon Race Walk) – Ram Baboo became India’s first national record holder in the marathon race walk event. The Asian Games medallist finished first with a time of 3:09:16 at the Indian Open Race Walking Competition in Chandigarh. 2) Manju Rani (Marathon Race Walk) – Asian Games medallist Manju Rani began her 2026 season on a brilliant note, winning gold and becoming India’s first national record holder in the women’s marathon race walk with a time of 3:33:24 at the Indian Open Race Walking Competition in Chandigarh. 3) Ravina (Half Marathon Race Walk) – Ravina became India’s first national record holder in the women’s half marathon race walk event. She won gold with a time of 1:39:14 at the Indian Open Race Walking Competition in Chandigarh. 4) Sahil (Half Marathon Race Walk) – Sahil became India’s first national record holder in the men’s half marathon race walk event. He won gold with a time of 1:25:48 at the Indian Open Race Walking Competition in Chandigarh. Gurindervir–Animesh: India’s 100m National Record rewritten three times this season 5) Gurindervir Singh clocked 10.17s in the semifinals at the Federation Cup. 6) Animesh Kujur bettered it with 10.15s in the semifinals. 7) Gurindervir Singh lowered it further to 10.09s in the final. Men’s Pole Vault National Record bettered four times this season 8) Kuldeep Kumar cleared 5.41m at the National Indoor Championships to set a new national record. 9) Dev Meena cleared 5.42m at the Federation Cup. 10) Kuldeep Kumar and Dev Meena both cleared 5.45m. 11) Dev Meena cleared 5.46m at the Interstate Championships, breaching the Asian Games qualification mark. Women’s Pole Vault National Record bettered three times this season 12) Baranica Elangovan shattered the national record by clearing 4.22m at the National Indoor Championships. 13) She improved it again to 4.23m at the Combined Events Indoor Championships. 14) Sindhushree G bettered it once again, clearing 4.25m at the Interstate Championships. 15) Parul Chaudhary (5000m) – Parul Chaudhary finished second in the women’s 5000m at the Meeting Nikaïa, clocking a sensational 15:04.26 to break the Indian national record. 16) Pooja (High Jump) – Pooja cleared 1.93m to break the Indian senior women’s high jump national record at the U20 Asian Athletics Championships 2026. 17) Tejas Shirse (110m Hurdles) – Tejas Ashok Shirse rewrote the Indian record books, clocking a sensational lifetime best of 13.27s in the men’s 110m hurdles at the Indian Athletics Series–9. 18) Gulveer Singh (5000m) – Gulveer Singh set a new Indian national record in the men’s 5000m outdoor event at the LA Track Fest with a time of 13:03.93. 19) Vishal TK (400m) – Vishal TK shattered his own national record, clocking a historic 44.98s to become the first Indian ever to run under 45 seconds in the men’s 400m. Mixed 4×100m Relay National Record broken twice this season 20) India’s 4×100m Mixed Relay Team B, comprising Lalu Bhoi, Unnathi Bolanda, Jayaram, and Harita Bhadra, stunned the senior team by breaking the national record with 42.30s. 21) India’s 4×100m Mixed Relay Team created history at the World Relays, clocking a stunning 41.35s to break the national record. Team: Animesh • Ragul • Nithya • Sneha 22) Anushka Yadav (Women’s Hammer Throw) – Eighteen-year-old sensation Anushka Yadav became India’s youngest senior national record holder after shattering the women’s hammer throw national record with a massive lifetime best of 67.02m. 23) Sarvesh Kushare (High Jump) – Sarvesh Kushare delivered the performance of his career, clearing a sensational 2.31m to set a new Indian national record in the men’s high jump. 24) Ancy Sojan (Long Jump) – Ancy Sojan finally achieved the moment she had been chasing for years, breaking one of India’s oldest national records with a lifetime best leap of 6.88m in the women’s long jump. 25) Tejaswin Shankar (Decathlon) – Tejaswin Shankar became the first Indian ever to cross 8,000 points in the decathlon. He finished the Federation Cup 2026 decathlon with a massive 8,057 points, becoming the first Indian in history to breach the 8,000-point mark. 26) Gurindervir Singh (60m) – Gurindervir Singh won gold in the men’s 60m at the National Indoor Championships 2026 by clocking 6.60s, breaking the previous national record of 6.67s set by V.K. Elakkiadasan in 2018. |
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India’s Anand Singh delivered a sensational performance to claim the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw at the 2026 Asian U23 Athletics Championships, marking a memorable international debut.
The young Indian produced a lifetime-best throw of 80.57m, becoming the latest Indian javelin thrower to cross the prestigious 80-metre mark. His winning effort not only secured the Asian U23 title but also represented a remarkable improvement over his previous personal best of 77.68m.
Competing in his first-ever international event, Anand rose to the occasion with a championship-winning display, announcing himself as one of India’s most promising talents in the discipline. His breakthrough performance further strengthens India’s growing reputation in men’s javelin throw and adds another name to the country’s expanding list of elite 80m throwers.
With the Asian U23 crown and a historic first 80m throw, Anand Singh has taken a significant step forward in his athletics career, raising expectations for even bigger achievements on the international stage.
India’s women’s 4x100m relay team delivered an impressive performance to win the silver medal at the 2026 Asian U23 Athletics Championships, finishing with a time of 44.68 seconds.
The Indian quartet of Sanjana, Akshaya, Sudheeksha, and Shreeya Rajesh combined brilliantly to secure a place on the podium. China claimed the gold medal with a championship-winning time of 43.75 seconds, while Kazakhstan took bronze in 50.90 seconds.
The silver-medal finish adds another significant achievement to India’s campaign at the championships, highlighting the country’s growing strength in relay events and the promising talent emerging at the U23 level.
India’s women’s 4x400m relay team produced a commanding performance to win the gold medal at the 2026 Asian U23 Athletics Championships, clocking an impressive 3:33.62.
The Indian quartet of Shravani Sangle, Sandra Mol Sabu, Pravallika, and Nofisa combined brilliantly to finish ahead of China (3:35.14) and Kazakhstan (3:37.65), securing the continental U23 title.
Shravani Sangle provided India with a solid start before Sandra Mol Sabu delivered a decisive second leg, pulling clear of the Chinese runner over the final 100 metres to hand India a comfortable lead. Pravallika and Nofisa then ran composed final two legs, maintaining the advantage and ensuring India crossed the finish line first.
The winning time of 3:33.62 also underlined the team’s quality, finishing just 0.81 seconds behind the Indian senior team’s season-best mark of 3:32.81, highlighting the immense potential of the country’s next generation of quarter-milers.
India’s men’s 4x400m relay team delivered a strong performance to secure the silver medal at the 2026 Asian U23 Athletics Championships, finishing in 3:04.24.
The Indian quartet of Astik Pradhan, Megavarnam Sharan, Setu Mishra, and Aman Choudhary fought hard throughout the race but finished behind China, which claimed the gold medal in 3:03.46. Qatar took the bronze medal with a time of 3:06.19.
Astik Pradhan provided India with an excellent start, handing over in the lead after a brilliant opening leg. Megavarnam Sharan maintained the advantage with another composed run before China moved ahead during Setu Mishra’s third leg. On the anchor leg, Aman Choudhary mounted a determined chase but was unable to bridge the gap, ensuring India finished with a well-earned silver medal.
The podium finish adds another medal to India’s impressive campaign at the Asian U23 Athletics Championships, reflecting the country’s growing depth in the 4x400m relay.
India’s Shravani Sangle continued her impressive run at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026, winning the bronze medal in the women’s 400m hurdles in Ordos, China with a lifetime best of 58.09s.
The 20-year-old produced an excellent race to finish third, lowering her personal best in the process and adding another medal to India’s growing tally at the continental championships. Competing against a strong field of Asia’s leading U23 hurdlers, Shravani maintained her rhythm throughout the race before finishing strongly to secure a well-deserved place on the podium.
The bronze medal capped a memorable campaign for the young Indian athlete, who had already played a pivotal role in India’s triumph in the Mixed 4x400m Relay earlier in the championships. Running the anchor leg, Shravani delivered a sensational performance, overtaking the Chinese runner in the closing stages to seal the gold medal for India in dramatic fashion.
With her latest success in the individual event, Shravani concludes the championships with an impressive two-medal haul—a gold medal in the Mixed 4x400m Relay and a bronze medal in the women’s 400m hurdles.
Her lifetime-best performance of 58.09s also highlights the steady progress she has made this season. Producing a personal best in a championship final reflects both her composure under pressure and her continued development as one of India’s promising young quarter-milers and hurdlers.
The Asian U23 Athletics Championships have provided an ideal platform for emerging athletes to showcase their talent, and Shravani made full use of the opportunity with outstanding performances in both relay and individual competition.
Ending the championships with two medals and a new personal best, Shravani Sangle has firmly established herself as one of India’s standout performers in Ordos. Her performances not only contributed significantly to India’s medal tally but also underline her potential as she looks ahead to future senior international competitions.
India’s Shivaji Parashuram continued his outstanding campaign at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026 by winning the silver medal in the men’s 10,000m in Ordos, China, securing his second silver medal of the championships.
Shivaji produced a determined performance over the 25-lap race, clocking a lifetime best of 29:33.54s to finish second. The Indian distance runner remained among the leading pack throughout the race and finished strongly to achieve a new personal best while adding another medal to India’s tally.
The gold medal was claimed by Japan’s Yoshihiro Kusuoki, who crossed the finish line in 29:29.34s after edging out Shivaji in a closely contested race. China’s Jinzhi Jiang secured the bronze medal with a time of 29:42.54s, completing the podium.
The silver medal adds to an already memorable championship for Shivaji, who had earlier finished runner-up in the men’s 5000m on the opening day. By claiming silver medals in both distance events, he has emerged as one of India’s standout performers at the inaugural edition of the championships.
His latest performance was made even more impressive by the fact that he achieved a new lifetime best, reflecting his excellent form and continued progression at the continental level. Producing a personal best in a championship final underlines his ability to perform under pressure against Asia’s leading U23 distance runners.
The Asian U23 Athletics Championships have provided an important platform for emerging athletes to showcase their talent, and Shivaji has made the most of the opportunity with two exceptional performances. His consistency across both the 5,000m and 10,000m demonstrates his endurance and competitiveness over multiple distances.
With two silver medals now to his name, Shivaji Parashuram has established himself as one of India’s brightest young distance-running prospects. His impressive campaign in Ordos has not only strengthened India’s medal tally but also highlighted the country’s growing depth in long-distance athletics at the U23 level.
India’s 200m national record holder, Animesh Kujur, continued his remarkable rise in sprinting by producing a sensational lifetime best of 10.14 seconds in the men’s 100m final at the PUMA Fast Arms Fast Legs 2026, finishing second in the race.
Animesh had already impressed by clocking 10.19 seconds in the heats before improving to a blistering 10.14 seconds in the final.
The performance is now the fastest 100m ever recorded by an Indian outside the country.
It also strengthens his position as the second-fastest Indian in history over the distance, behind only Gurindervir Singh’s national-leading mark of 10.09 seconds.
Animesh had already become India’s second-fastest man over 100m earlier this season with a time of 10.15 seconds. He has now bettered that mark to 10.14 seconds, with both performances coming in the 2026 season.
The new personal best further underlines Animesh’s consistency at the highest level. He now owns three of the five fastest 100m performances ever recorded by an Indian, cementing his status as one of the country’s premier sprinters.
India’s All-Time Fastest Men’s 100m Performances
1. Gurindervir Singh – 10.09s
2. Animesh Kujur – 10.14s
3. Animesh Kujur – 10.15s
4. Gurindervir Singh – 10.17s
5. Animesh Kujur – 10.18s
