Who are India’s top medal contenders in the Commonwealth Games?
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will begin in Glasgow on July 23, but it will be no edition of the multi-sport event in recent memory.
Originally awarded to the Australian state of Victoria, the Games were left without a host after the project was abandoned due to skyrocketing costs. Glasgow eventually intervened to save the event, but with a major compromise. Instead of the usual full programme, the 2026 Commonwealth Games will feature just 10 sports, with several disciplines including hockey, badminton, shooting and wrestling dropped to make the event financially viable.
A limited schedule has significantly altered India’s medal prospects. After winning 61 medals at the 2022 Birmingham Games, India will head to Glasgow with a 126-member contingent, seeing the event as an important stepping stone to the Asian Games in Japan just two months later.
Athletics Federation of India senior vice-president Anju Bobby George said she expected India to return with around 30 medals, about half the total from Birmingham.
So who are India’s top medal hopes at the 2026 Commonwealth Games? Here’s a look at the athletes most likely to stand on the podium.
ATHLETICS
Neeraj Chopra (Javelin)
There is no bigger name in India’s Commonwealth Games contingent than Neeraj Chopra. After missing the Birmingham Olympics due to injury, the Olympic champion returns with another chance to add to his title at Gold Coast 2018.
Neeraj returned to competition only this season after recovering from injury and has steadily built up a rhythm with a best throw of 85.69m. Although it is below his personal best, he is expected to peak at the right time in Glasgow.
The Indian will have to overcome a stacked field that includes Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga, Grenada’s Anderson Peters, compatriot Rohit Yadav, South Africa’s Douw Smit and possibly Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, depending on how the defending champions fare. Neeraj Chopra with Rumesh Tharanga. (Photo by Reuters)
Rohit Yadav (javelin throw)
While Neeraj remains India’s biggest star, Rohit Yadav has actually been the country’s best spearman this season.
Rohit threw a career-best 87.05 in June to move into contention for a real gold medal. With confidence high and improving consistency, the 24-year-old has emerged as one of India’s strongest medal hopes.
Murali Sreeshankar (long jump)
Murali Sreeshankar has made a remarkable comeback from a career-threatening patellar tendon injury and heads to Glasgow in excellent form.
The long jumper has already cleared 8.38m this season, narrowly ahead of Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle, who managed 8.37m. If Sreeshankar can reproduce that form on the day, India could have another Commonwealth champion. Murali Sreeshankar is expected to win a medal. (Photo by Reuters)
Sarvesh Kushare (high jump)
Sarvesh Kushare has been quietly enjoying one of the best seasons by an Indian high jumper.
The athlete from Maharashtra finally cleared the elusive 2.30m mark this year, a mark that has moved him to fourth in the world rankings. His consistency turned him from an outsider into a genuine gold medal contender.
Britain’s Kimani Jack, who is currently ranked third in the world, is expected to be the biggest challenge.
Praveen Chithravel (triple jump)
National record holder Praveen Chithravel continues to be India’s main hope in the triple jump.
After setting a national record of 17.37m in 2025, Praveen managed to achieve a season’s best of 17.08m this year, which he achieved at the Inter-State Championships in Ranchi.
Jamaican Jordan Scott, who has jumped 17.69m this season, starts as overwhelming favorite for gold. Praveen is likely to battle Kenya’s Kevin Kemboi (17.00m) for the remaining podium spots.
Tejinderpal Singh Toor (shot put)
One of India’s most decorated throwers, Tejinderpal Singh Toor enters Glasgow with a season’s best throw of 21.03m.
Surprisingly, Toor is yet to win a Commonwealth Games medal and will be eager to rectify that. His biggest rivals are expected to be Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and England’s Scott Lincoln, both of whom have consistently thrown over 21 meters this season. Tejinderpal Singh Toor is yet to win a Commonwealth Games medal. (Photo by Reuters)
Seema Kaliramma (Discus Throw)
Three-time national champion Seema Kaliramma enters the Games as an outside medal contender.
Her best throw of 59.73m this season leaves her well behind Jamaica’s Samantha Hall, who dominated the event with a performance of 66.39m. However, the depth of the field is relatively small, giving Seema a realistic shot at sneaking onto the podium if she puts in her best performance.
Tejaswin Shankar (decathlon)
Few Indian sportspersons have enjoyed a breakthrough like Tejaswin Shankar in the last year.
Tejaswin, one of India’s most successful jumpers, became the first Indian decathlon player to cross the 8,000 mark and break the country’s records.
His all-round ability makes him one of India’s strongest medal prospects, with Nigeria’s Jami Schlueter expected to be his biggest challenger for the gold. Tejaswin Shankar will be one of India’s brightest medal prospects in the competition. (Photo by Reuters)
WEIGHT-LIFTING
Mirabai Chanu (49 kg)
Whenever Mirabai Chanu steps on the Commonwealth platform, expectations follow.
The Tokyo Olympic silver medalist and former Commonwealth champion remains India’s heavy favorite for the gold medal. Despite battling injuries in recent seasons, Mirabai remains among the world’s elite and is expected to dominate her category again. Mirabai Chanu is the top favorite to win gold in CWG. (PTI photo)
Bindyarani Devi (58 kg)
Bindyarani Devi has steadily established herself as one of India’s most reliable weightlifters.
Having won silver at the previous Commonwealth Games, she returns to Glasgow with another real opportunity to get on the podium and could even challenge for gold if she performs close to her personal best.
Nirupama Devi Seram (63 kg)
Nirupama Devi Seram, one of the emerging names in Indian weightlifting, heads into her first Commonwealth Games with confidence after an impressive domestic season.
Although she may not start as an outright favorite, she has the ability to surprise in the women’s division under 63 kg.
Gyaneshwari Yadav (53kg)
Gyaneshwari Yadav has improved steadily over the past two seasons and enters the Commonwealth Games as one of India’s genuine medal contenders.
The 53kg competitor showed she can compete with the continent’s best and will be hoping to turn that promise into a Commonwealth podium finish.
BOX
Lovlina Borgohain (75 kg)
Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain remains India’s biggest name in boxing.
However, the Assam boxer has endured an inconsistent run since Paris and arrives in Glasgow looking to rediscover the form that has made her one of the best in the world. If he does, a first Commonwealth Games medal is within reach.
Jasmine Lamboria (57 kg)
Jaismine Lamboria enters the tournament as one of India’s strongest gold medal hopes.
The Haryana boxer has continued her steady rise up the international ladder and has the skills and temperament to finish on the podium.
Sachin Siwach (60kg)
Sachin Siwach could be a surprise for India in Glasgow.
The youngster made his mark on the senior stage by winning gold in the men’s 60kg category at the 2025 World Cup Boxing Finals. His dominant 5-0 victory over Paris Olympic silver medalist Munarbek Seitbek Uulu in the final confirmed he belongs among the elite.
England’s William Hewitt and Canada’s Keoma-Ali Al-Ahmadieh are expected to provide the toughest tests in his quest for another international title.
JUDO
Tulika Maan
Tulika Maan enters the Commonwealth Games as India’s biggest hope in judo. She continued to improve after winning silver in Birmingham and will enter the tournament as one of the favorites to win gold in the women’s heavyweight division.
Avtar Singh and Harsh Tokas, among others, are also medal prospects.
INDIA’S COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2026 SQUAD
athletics (31)
Neeraj Chopra – Javelin Throw
Tejaswin Shankar – decathlon, high jump
Gurindervir Singh – 100m
Animesh Kujur – 200m
Parul Chaudhary – 3000m Steeplechase, 5000m
Sreeshankar Murali – Long Jump
Pooja Singh – High Jump
Manpreet Kaur – shot put
Seema Kaliramna – Discus Throw
Nidhi Rani – Discus Throw
Sarvesh Kushare – High Jump
Praveen Chithravel – Triple Jump
Selva Prabhu – Triple Jump
Lokesh Satyanathan – Long Jump
Leaves – Race walk
Priyanka Goswami – Race Walk
Rashdeep Kaur – 400m
Neeru Pathak – 400m
Ansa Babu – 400m
Tejas Shirse – 110m hurdles
Yashas Palaksha – 400m steeplechase
Santhosh T – 400m Hurdles
Dev Meena – Pole Vault
Kuldeep Kumar – Pole Vault
Rohit Yadav – Javelin throw
Yashvir Singh – Javelin Throw
Vishal TK – 400m
Rajesh Ramesh – 400m
Tajinderpal Singh Toor – Shot put
Samardeep Singh Gill – Shot put
Aadarsh Ram – High Jump
Box (14)
Women
Sakshi Chaudhary – 51 kg
Preeti Pawar – 54 kg
Jasmine Lamboria – 57 kg
Priya Ghanghas – 60 kg
Parveen Hooda – 65 kg
Arundhati Chaudhary – 70 kg
Lovlina Borgohain – 75 kg
Men
Jadumani Singh – 55 kg
Sachin Siwach – 60 kg
Aditya Pratap Singh – 65 kg
Sumit Kundu – 70 kg
Ankush – 80 kg
Kapil Pokhriyya – 90 kg
Narendra Berwal – +90 kg
Weightlifting (11)
Mirabai Chan
Gyaneshwari Devi
Bindiyarani Devi
Harjinder Kaur
Sanjana
Martina Devi
Rishikanta Singh
M King
Ajay Babu
Dilbag Singh
Lovepreet Singh
Track cycling (6)
Ronaldo Singh
David Beckham
Rojit Singh
Dinesh Kumar
Jemesh Singh
Harshveer Sekhon
swimming (5)
Aneesh Gowda
Sajan Prakash
Srihari Nataraj
Aryan Nehra
Dharshan Shashikumar
judo (13)
Women
Asmit Dey – 48 kg
Sharadha Chopade – 52 kg
Yamini Maurya – 57 kg
Unnati Sharma – 63 kg
Inunganbi – 70 kg
Ishroop Narang – 78 kg
Tulika Maan – +78kg
Men
Rohit – 66 kg
Arun Kumar – 73 kg
Rough tokas – 81 kg
Karanjit Singh Maan – 90 kg
Yash Ghangas – 100 kg
Avtar Singh – 100 kg
grass bowls (6)
Pink
Nayanmoni Saikia
Rupa Rani Tirkey
Dinesh Kumar
The name Singh
Sonowal well
Artistic gymnastics (8)
Pranati Nayak
Nishika Agarwal
Listen to Rewal
Protistha Samanta
Tapan Mohanty
Satyajit Mondal
Tapaswera Nath
Swatish Kaitheri
Para athletics (10)
Sharmila
Devender Kumar
Rakeshbhai Bhatt
Dilip Gavit
Shubham Juyal
Shilpa Shyla
Soman Rana
Basil
Rakesh Shanmugam
Sagar Thyat
For Powerlifting (8)
Shreyansh Trivedi
Jaspreet Kaur
Suman Devi
Kasthuri Rajamani
Paramjeet
Ashok Kumar
Jhandu Kumar
Sudhir
For swimming (6)
Ravi Veera
But I have
Suyash Jadhav
Swastik Patil
Chaitanya Kulkarni
Tejas Nandkumar
Wheelchair Basketball (Women) (4)
Reena Gupta
Rita Chan
Meenakshi Jadhav
Lakshmi Rayappa
For cycling (1)
Lisha Das
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
22 Jul 2026 21:38 IST