Commonwealth Games 2026: All you need to know about Samardeep Singh Gill

Samardeep Singh Gill has emerged as one of India's leading shot putters after a rapid rise over the past few seasons.

The Madhya Pradesh athlete broke the 20-metre barrier for the first time in 2026, earning qualification for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and signalling his arrival among the country's top throwers.

Having overcome injury setbacks and a late start in athletics, Samardeep now heads to his maiden Commonwealth Games looking to build on the best season of his career.

Early days

Born on January 3, 2001, in Valsad, Gujarat, Samardeep initially pursued cricket, playing as a medium-pace bowler and lower-order batsman at the district level.

His sporting journey changed after his father, Mahender Singh Gill, encouraged him to improve his fitness.

While training in Ratlam, Samardeep was introduced to shot put by Railways athlete Jagminder Singh. A local throwing competition revealed his natural ability, prompting him to shift his focus to athletics.

After brief training in Jalandhar, he joined the Madhya Pradesh Athletics Academy in Bhopal, where he began developing under coach Sandeep Singh.

Rising through the ranks

Samardeep's early progress was interrupted by a serious ankle injury that required surgery. The setback, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, stalled his development during crucial years of his career.

He eventually returned to competition and steadily established himself on the domestic circuit.

His growing consistency saw him regularly throw beyond the 19-metre mark while collecting national medals and a gold medal at the South Asian Athletics Championships.

As his performances improved, Samardeep also began challenging India's established shot putters, including national record holder and former Asian Games champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor.

Breakthrough season

The 2026 season marked the biggest breakthrough of Samardeep's career.

At the National Senior Athletics Federation Cup in Ranchi, he produced a personal best throw of 20.46m to win gold, becoming the latest Indian shot putter to breach the 20-metre mark.

The effort also secured qualification for both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.

Earlier, he had won the Federation Cup in 2025 before adding another title at the National Open Athletics Championships, underlining his growing consistency at the highest domestic level.

The Ranchi performance represented a significant milestone after several seasons of hovering around the 19-metre mark and established him among India's leading throwers.

Eyes on Glasgow

Samardeep heads to Glasgow for his Commonwealth Games debut after a breakthrough campaign that has seen him climb to new heights.

From starting as a cricketer to becoming a national champion and breaking the 20-metre barrier, Samardeep's rise has been built on perseverance and steady improvement.

His recent performances have established him as another athlete to watch out for as Indian athletics continues to strengthen its depth across disciplines.