Commonwealth Games 2026 Preview: India’s Medal Hopes in Men’s Shot Put and Triple Jump at Glasgow

With the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on the horizon, Indian athletics heads into the multi-sport showpiece with genuine medal ambitions in the field events. Two disciplines in particular — the men’s shot put and the men’s triple jump — offer India a strong blend of proven experience and exciting emerging talent. Here’s a closer look at the four athletes carrying the tricolour’s hopes.

Shot Put: Toor’s return and Samardeep’s breakthrough

Leading India’s shot put challenge is the experienced Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who has enjoyed a strong return to form in 2026. His season-best of 21.03m is significant for one key reason: it marks the first time he has crossed the 21-metre barrier in two years, a hugely encouraging sign of a comeback at just the right time. That mark ranks him sixth among the athletes selected for Glasgow.

Alongside him is one of India’s most promising young throwers, Samardeep Gill, who has had a breakthrough season. Samardeep produced a lifetime best of 20.46m to become a 20-metre thrower for the first time in his career, a performance that places him 12th among the selected field. Together they give India a balanced pairing — Toor’s pedigree and Samardeep’s rising trajectory.

The competition, however, will be fierce. New Zealand’s Tom Walsh leads the selected field with a world-class 21.82m, followed by Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (21.74m), with New Zealand’s Nick Palmer (21.19m) and Britain’s Scott Lincoln (21.16m) also in strong form. Toor will need to be at his very best to challenge for the podium.

Triple Jump: India’s proud tradition continues

If there is one event where India travels to Glasgow with real optimism, it is the men’s triple jump. Praveen Chithravel and Selva Prabhu both arrive in career-best form, and crucially, both rank near the top of the selected field. Praveen has a season-best of 17.08m and Selva 17.05m, placing them third and fourth respectively among Commonwealth-selected athletes — squarely in medal contention.

Only Jamaica’s Jordan Scott (17.69m) sits clearly ahead of the Indian pair on season’s bests, with Kenya’s Kevin Kemboi (16.84m) and Trinidad & Tobago’s Kelsey Daniel (16.68m) further back. It leaves India with two realistic podium prospects in a single event.

India has fond memories here: at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the country celebrated a stunning gold-and-silver finish, with Eldhose Paul taking the title (a wind-assisted 17.03m) and Abdulla Aboobacker second, while Praveen narrowly missed the podium in fourth. Four years on, Praveen returns as a far more experienced athlete and one of the favourites, with Selva’s breakthrough season adding a second string to India’s bow.

The verdict

India heads to Glasgow with a compelling mix: a resurgent Toor and rising Samardeep in the shot put, and two top-four-ranked jumpers in Praveen and Selva looking to extend India’s proud triple-jump tradition. If these four reproduce their season’s best on the day, another Commonwealth Games athletics medal — or more than one — is well within reach.

Prime Hunt Daily brings you full coverage of India’s campaign at the Commonwealth Games 2026.