Commonwealth Games
CWG 2026: How quarter-miler Dilip Gavit sprinted to 100m T47 gold
A Paris Olympic finalist in 400m T47 category, Dilip trained for 100m just two months becore the Games as his main event was not included in Games programme.
Para-athlete Dilip Mahadu Gavit celebrates after winning the men's 100m T47 final. (Photo credit: PTI)
Some two months before the Commonwealth Games, Dilip Gavit wasn’t even sure he would compete in Glasgow, let alone making the podium.
A Paris Olympic finalist in 400m T47 category, Dilip’s event was not part of the Games programme. But at the insistence of a Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) official, he switched his focus to the 100m.
On Thursday, on a rain-soaked track, Dilip justified that decision by sprinting his way to a gold in the men's T47 100m final.
This was his first major race over the distance. He became the first Indian para track athlete to win a Commonwealth Games gold, crossing the finish line with a Games record and a season's best 10.71 seconds.
Born in the small village of Toran Dongari near Nashik, Maharashtra, Dilip grew up in a family whose main occupation was farming.
He was five to six years old when his arm had to be amputated after a tree severely injured his right arm. Due to the lack of timely medical treatment, the injury turned into gangrene, leading to the amputation of his arm below the elbow.
But, Dilip refused to give up and began training on the dusty roads of his village. He was later spotted by his coach Vaijnath Kale, who guided him into professional para-athletics.
Under Kale, Gavit won gold in the men’s 400m T47 event at the 2022 Asian Para Games, securing India’s historic 100th medal at the Games. Dilip also reached the final of the men’s 400m T47 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
After his victory, Dilip dedicated his medal to his coach on the occasion of Guru Purnima. Kale had adopted Dilip and took care of his day to day requirements and coaching.