New Delhi, August 14: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacted with members of the Indian Army contingent that delivered a stellar performance at the recently concluded 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, winning 16 medals — 8 Gold, 7 Silver and 1 Bronze.
India won a total of 39 medals at the Games, including 13 Gold, 17 Silver and 9 Bronze. Defence Forces personnel contributed 18 medals, with 16 coming from the Indian Army and two from the Indian Navy.
‘Perfect Blend of Soldier and Champion’
Praising the athletes, Rajnath Singh described their performance as extraordinary and said their ability to overcome physical and mental pressure made them an inspiration, particularly for India’s youth.
He described the Army sportspersons as a “perfect blend of a soldier and a champion”, highlighting the discipline, determination and resilience they bring from military service into competitive sport.
The Defence Minister also praised the performance of Indian women boxers, noting that four of India’s six boxing gold medals were won by women, calling it a reflection of the country’s growing Nari Shakti.
Several Historic Firsts for Army Athletes
The Army contingent’s campaign was marked by several landmark achievements.
Naib Subedar Sarvesh Kushare created history by winning India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games silver medal in high jump.
Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh became the first Indian athlete to win two athletics medals at a single Commonwealth Games, securing silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m.
In judo, Havildar Harsh Singh won India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in the sport, in the 60 kg category.
In para shot put, Subedar Soman Rana and Lance Naik Shubham Juyal secured India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games gold and silver medals in the event.
Army Dominates Boxing Gold Medal Haul
Indian boxers delivered a historic performance at Glasgow, with India winning seven boxing gold medals, the highest number won by any nation in boxing at a single edition of the Games.
Army pugilists contributed six of those gold medals and two silver medals, underlining the strength of the Army’s sports ecosystem.
The Army’s medal winners included Sakshi, Preeti, Jasmine, Arundhati Chaudhary, Sachin Sewach and Ankush, who won gold medals across different boxing categories.
Records in Weightlifting
Havildar Ajaya Babu produced a record-breaking performance in the 79 kg weightlifting category, registering a Games Record of 149 kg in the snatch and a total lift of 330 kg, earning a silver medal.
The Defence Forces also secured additional medals through CPO Lovepreet Singh and CPO Chanambam Rishikanta Singh in weightlifting.
Backing India’s Sporting Ambitions
Rajnath Singh credited the athletes, coaches and support staff for years of disciplined training, professional coaching and sports-science support.
He also acknowledged the contribution of the Mission Olympic Wing and its high-performance nodes in preparing India’s elite military athletes.
The Defence Minister said Indian sporting talent is now emerging from across the country and that sports have become increasingly accessible rather than remaining the preserve of a select few.
He extended his best wishes to the athletes for upcoming international competitions, including the Asian Games and Olympic Games.
Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth and senior Army officials were present during the interaction at Kartavya Bhavan in New Delhi.