Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today 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, including eight gold medals.
The interaction was held at Kartavya Bhavan in New Delhi in the presence of Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth and senior Indian Army officials.
Praising the sportspersons for their outstanding performance, Rajnath Singh described their achievement as “extraordinary” and said they represent a perfect blend of a soldier and a champion. He commended their determination and ability to overcome intense physical and mental pressure while competing at the highest international level.
India won a total of 39 medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, comprising 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze medals. Defence Forces personnel contributed 18 medals to the country’s tally, with 16 won by Indian Army personnel and two by the Indian Navy.
Rajnath Singh particularly highlighted the performance of Indian women boxers, who secured four of India’s six boxing gold medals won by the Army contingent. He said the achievement reflected the growing strength of Nari Shakti in Indian sports and expressed confidence that it would encourage more young women to take up boxing and consider careers in the armed forces.
The Defence Minister also noted that sporting talent is now emerging from every part of the country, making sports increasingly accessible rather than remaining the preserve of a select few. He congratulated the athletes and extended his best wishes for upcoming international competitions, including the Asian Games and the Olympics.
The Indian Army’s campaign in Glasgow was marked by several historic achievements. Naib Subedar Sarvesh Kushare won India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games silver medal in high jump, while Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh became the first Indian athlete to win two athletics medals at a single edition of the Commonwealth Games. Gulveer claimed silver in the 10,000 metres and bronze in the 5,000 metres.
In judo, Havildar Harsh Singh created history by winning India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in the sport in the 60 kg category.
Para athletics also witnessed a landmark achievement, with Subedar Soman Rana winning gold and Lance Naik Shubham Juyal securing silver in the F-57 para shot put event.
In weightlifting, Havildar Ajaya Babu produced a record-breaking performance in the 79 kg category, setting a Games Record of 149 kg in the snatch and registering an impressive total lift of 330 kg.
Indian boxing produced another historic milestone in Glasgow, with the country winning seven gold medals—the highest number secured by any nation in boxing at a single edition of the Games. Indian Army boxers played a major role, contributing six gold and two silver medals.
The Army’s gold-medal winners included Havildar Sakshi in the 51 kg boxing category, Naib Subedar Preeti in 54 kg, Naib Subedar Jasmine in 67 kg, Havildar Arundhati Chaudhary in 70 kg, Havildar Sachin Sewach in 60 kg, Havildar Ankush in 80 kg, Havildar Harsh Singh in 60 kg judo and Subedar Soman Rana in F-57 para shot put.
The silver-medal winners included Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary) Neeraj Chopra in javelin throw, Naib Subedar Sarvesh Kushare in high jump, Havildar Jadumani Singh in 55 kg boxing, Subedar Narinder in 90 kg boxing, Havildar Ajaya Babu in 79 kg weightlifting, Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh in the 10,000 metres and Lance Naik Shubham Juyal in F-57 para shot put.
Indian Navy personnel also contributed to the medal haul, with Chief Petty Officer COM(TEL) Lovepreet Singh winning silver in the +110 kg weightlifting category and Chief Petty Officer (PT) Chanambam Rishikanta Singh claiming silver in the 60 kg weightlifting category.
Rajnath Singh said the medals were the result of years of disciplined training, sacrifice, professional coaching, sports-science support and the sustained efforts of athletes, coaches, support staff, the Mission Olympic Wing and its high-performance nodes.
The Defence Minister said the achievements of the athletes would continue to inspire the country’s youth and bring greater recognition to the contribution of the Armed Forces to Indian sport.
