India’s rise as a genuine athletics power has been years in the making, and the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow is another chapter in that story. The turning point for many observers was Neeraj Chopra’s javelin gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, which was followed by his historic Olympic gold in Tokyo, changing how Indian fans and young athletes viewed the sport.
Since then, a new generation has emerged. Long-distance runner Gulveer Singh, who won silver in the men’s 10,000m at Glasgow 2026, became only the third Indian man ever to win an individual Commonwealth Games medal in a men’s track event, joining the legendary Milkha Singh and more recently Avinash Sable. Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar and high jumper Sarvesh Kushare have added further depth to a squad that no longer relies on a single star performer — read the full breakdown in our men’s athletics medal winners and women’s athletics medal winners posts.
Para athletics has been just as important to this transformation. Sharmila Dhankar’s gold medal at Glasgow 2026 was India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games gold in women’s para athletics, while Dilip Mahadu Gavit and Mohammed Basil M’s 1-2 finish in the men’s 100m T47 underlined the growing strength of India’s para-athletics programme.
The 32-member athletics squad at Glasgow 2026, selected through the Federation Cup and Athletics Federation of India trials, reflects a more structured and competitive selection process than in previous decades. Alongside India’s equally dominant weightlifting team, athletics and para athletics have taken on even greater importance for India’s overall medal ambitions now that sports like wrestling, badminton and hockey are missing from this edition.