CWG 2026 Athletics Preview: India Eyes Bigger Medal Haul, But World-Class Competition Looms in Glasgow

Glasgow, July 26: India's 32-member athletics contingent begins its Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign on Monday (July 27) with hopes of surpassing the eight medals (1 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze) won at Birmingham four years ago. While the squad boasts multiple national record holders and athletes in career-best form, the path to the podium will be significantly tougher this time.

Unlike previous editions, several marquee events feature reigning Olympic champions, world champions and Diamond League winners, making Glasgow one of the strongest athletics competitions in Commonwealth Games history. India's challenge, therefore, will not only be to produce personal bests but also overcome world-class competition across the jumps, throws, hurdles and combined events.

The Indian campaign will be led by Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Murali Sreeshankar, national high jump record holder Sarvesh Kushare, decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, triple jumpers Praveen Chithravel and Selva Prabhu, along with a talented crop of emerging athletes.

Neeraj Chopra Faces Toughest Commonwealth Challenge Yet

All eyes will be on Neeraj Chopra as the two-time Olympic medallist returns to the Commonwealth Games after missing the Birmingham 2022 edition because of injury.

Neeraj won gold at the Gold Coast Games in 2018, but reclaiming the Commonwealth title will be anything but easy. The 28-year-old has endured a challenging season after suffering a lower back injury in September 2025. He made his delayed return at the Doha Diamond League in June before spending another month training and rehabilitating in Bienne, Switzerland. Also Read: "Big Distances Don't Come Every Time, But Consistency Matters", Neeraj Chopra's Message Before CWG Battle

Though Indian athletics head coach Radhakrishnan Nair believes Neeraj is in "perfect physical shape", the men's javelin field resembles that of a World Championships rather than a typical Commonwealth Games competition.

Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage enters Glasgow as the world leader this season with a massive 92.62m throw and is the only athlete to have breached the 90-metre mark in 2026. Pakistan's reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem remains one of the biggest threats despite struggling for consistency this season.

The field is further strengthened by former world champions Anderson Peters of Grenada and Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad & Tobago, Olympic medallist Julius Yego of Kenya, while India's Rohit Yadav, who has thrown 87.05m this season, also enters the competition as a genuine medal contender. Yashvir Singh completes India's three-member javelin team.

Men's Javelin Schedule

• July 30: Qualification
• July 31: Final

Murali Sreeshankar Eyes Another Commonwealth Podium

Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar arrives in Glasgow after completing one of Indian athletics' most remarkable comeback stories.

After missing the Paris Olympics because of a ruptured ACL, the Kerala athlete has bounced back brilliantly to register a season-best jump of 8.38m, the best among Commonwealth athletes this year.

The Birmingham 2022 silver medallist will be among the favourites for another podium finish, though Jamaica's former world champion Tajay Gayle promises to provide stiff competition.

India's second entrant Lokesh Sathyanathan has also impressed this season with a best of 8.21m and could challenge for a medal.

Sarvesh Kushare Headlines High Jump Challenge

Fresh from setting a new national record of 2.31m, Sarvesh Kushare enters Glasgow in the form of his life.

However, the men's high jump field is stacked with elite talent, including reigning Olympic champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand, England's Kimani Jack, Jamaica's Romaine Beckford and Australia's Yual Reath.

India will also field Aadarsh Ram and Tejaswin Shankar in the event.

Tejaswin, Triple Jumpers Among Medal Contenders

National record holder Tejaswin Shankar will once again shoulder India's hopes in the decathlon, where he is currently second on the Commonwealth season rankings behind Canadian legend Damian Warner.

Meanwhile, national record holder Praveen Chithravel and Selva Prabhu will look to challenge Jamaica's Jordan Scott in the men's triple jump after both Indians crossed the 17-metre mark this season.

Track Events Offer Outside Medal Chances

National record holder Tejas Shirse has emerged as one of India's brightest sprint prospects after clocking 13.27 seconds in the men's 110m hurdles earlier this season. Another strong performance could see him reach the final and challenge for a medal.

India's fastest man Gurindervir Singh will also begin his campaign in the men's 100 metres after rewriting the national record earlier this year.

Indians in Action on Opening Day (July 27)

India's Medal Prospects Across Events

• Men's Javelin: Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav
• Men's Long Jump: Murali Sreeshankar, Lokesh Sathyanathan
• Men's High Jump: Sarvesh Kushare
• Men's Triple Jump: Praveen Chithravel, Selva Prabhu
• Men's Decathlon: Tejaswin Shankar
• Men's 110m Hurdles: Tejas Shirse
• Men's 10,000m: Outside medal chance
• Women's 10,000m Race Walk: Outside medal chance
• Men's Shot Put: Outside medal chance

Stronger Squad, Tougher Competition

India heads into Glasgow with one of its deepest athletics squads in recent Commonwealth Games history. Multiple athletes arrive as national record holders, while several others have produced career-best performances over the past year. However, depth alone does not guarantee medals.

Unlike previous editions, the Commonwealth Games athletics programme features Olympic champions, reigning world champions and Diamond League winners in several marquee events. Even Neeraj Chopra's bid to regain the javelin title will require overcoming perhaps the strongest field ever assembled in Commonwealth Games history.

Performance First, Medals Will Follow

While India has realistic medal contenders across the jumps, throws and hurdles, the strength of the competition means podium finishes will have to be earned against some of the world's best athletes. From Olympic champions to reigning world champions and Diamond League winners, Glasgow promises to offer one of the toughest athletics fields in Commonwealth Games history.

Perhaps that is why the focus within the Indian camp extends beyond the medal tally. Speaking to myKhel ahead of the Games, Reliance Foundation's High Performance Director and National Sprint Coach James Hillier stressed that the team's success would not be measured solely by medals.

"We're not just looking for medals. We're looking for good performances. If athletes perform to the level they're capable of, the medals will take care of themselves."

That philosophy could define India's athletics campaign in Glasgow. With several athletes arriving in career-best form and facing world-class opposition, personal bests, national records and consistent performances may prove just as significant as the final medal count. If India can deliver on those performances, the podium is likely to follow.