Commonwealth Games 2026: Meet the Young Indian Athletes Who Could Become the Next Sporting Superstars in Glasgow

For the many years, the Commonwealth Games platform has ushered in the era of several sportspersons from India. Alongside Krishna Poonia’s gold medal-winning throw of discus in 2010, the prestigious Games have played an active role in featuring athletes who went on to achieve glory at the Games at the international level.

As the Commonwealth Games 2026 is set to begin in Glasgow, a new set of Indian stars are ready to take their chances. While some of the experienced players will continue to represent India in the Commonwealth Games, many youngsters are waiting to make their mark in the mega event. Here are the some of the few players to watch out for this year edition.

Young Players to Watch Out For Commonwealth Games 2026

Animesh Kujur: The Quickest 200m Sprinter of India is Trying to Create History

Only 23 years old, Animesh Kujur is being recognized as one of the most promising sprinters in India.

Coming from a background of a football player in Chhattisgarh, Kujur switched to athletics and made a historic mark by registering a national record of 20.32 seconds in men’s 200m, emerging as the fastest 200-meter runner of the country.

Moreover, his winning bronze medal at the Asian Athletics Championships marked the end of a drought of more than 10 years for India in an event.

Despite the fact that the Glasgow event has several other international sprinters, just making it to the finals this time would mark a major step forward for Indian sprinting and present the growth of the competitiveness in India in short distance racess.

Gurindervir Singh’s Sprint Evolution

Known as the fastest sprinter in India, Gurindervir Singh clocked an impressive 10.09 seconds that helped him to create a new national record.

The athlete also proved his worth as one of the best sprinters in the world.

Although the champions of sprinting are a bit ahead of Gurindervir in taking on the standards of speed, the athlete’s success definitely announces a blooming sprinting power in India.

Gulveer Singh: A New Era in Indian Long-Distance Running

Although India has not historically been known for its long-distance running achievements, Gulveer Singh is making a difference in this field.

The Army runner has made history by being the first Indian to finish the 5,000-metre race in under 13 minutes, and he broke the national record in the 10,000m run later on.

Gulveer also reached an impressive result of winning two medals at one time at the Asian Championships.

It is going to be a difficult task for Gulveer to compete with professional runners from Uganda, Kenya and Australia. Still, his strategic racing skills can potentially make him a very strong competitor.

Praveen Chithravel: Continuing India’s Triple Jump Tradition.

India has emerged as a significant player in men’s triple jump events with Praveen Chithravel in the lead.

The talented athlete from Tamil Nadu equaled the national record in the event after jumping 17.37 meters, and he has successfully achieved jumps of more than 17 meters on numerous occasions.

His silver medal win at the Asian Championships and bronze medal victory at the Asian Games emphasize his ability to perform under pressure.

With one of the best annual jumps, Praveen participates in Glasgow as one of the medal prospects despite stiff competition from Jamaica.

Sachin Siwach: The Future Star of Boxing

Indian boxing has been known for producing champions from the Commonwealth, and Sachin Siwach seems to be a worthy heir.

Siwach became known in international boxing after winning the championship title in AIBA Youth World Championship and later joining senior boxing competitions.

Having gained fame for sharp counter-attacking punches and his serenity, Siwach arrives in Glasgow among top candidates for a medal in lightweight boxing.

Preeti Pawar: Prepared to Lead the New Generation of Indians

At at age of 21, Preeti Pawar has made herself known as one of the most exceptional female boxing stars that India has to offer.

Her achievement of winning a bronze medal at the Asian Games in 2022 proved her mettle by beating seasoned international competition.

After that, she has only continued developing her skills and gathering great international experience.

With a successful performance in Glasgow, she could firmly position herself as one of the best hopes for India in the 2028 Olympic cycle.

Tejas Shirse Hurdle Revolution

His accomplishments are making a valuable contribution to the development of hurdle racing in India.

Glasgow will be his first multi-sport championship, which will help him gain a lot of experience competing against the best hurdlers of the Commonwealth.

India will be counting on Shirse to make a mark at his first multi-event championship.