Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday hailed India’s armed forces athletes who won medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, describing them as a “perfect blend of a soldier and a champion” and a source of inspiration for the nation.
Interacting with members of the Indian Army contingent, Singh praised their determination to overcome physical and mental pressure while representing India at the international sporting event.
“You are the pride of the nation, and not just the pride of the Army,” Singh said.
Army Athletes Deliver In Glasgow
India finished fourth at the 2026 Commonwealth Games with 39 medals, including 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze.
The Indian Army’s 20-member contingent contributed 16 medals — eight gold, seven silver and one bronze. Indian Navy personnel added two more medals.
Singh described the athletes’ performance as extraordinary and said their achievements would particularly inspire India’s youth.
He also highlighted the performance of Indian women boxers, who won four of the country’s six boxing gold medals at the Games.
“This is a testimony to India’s growing Nari Shakti,” Singh said, adding that the achievement would encourage more women to take up sport and consider joining the defence forces.
Kushare, Gulveer Create History
The Army contingent also produced several landmark performances in Glasgow.
Naib Subedar Sarvesh Kushare won India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games silver medal in the high jump, marking a significant milestone for Indian athletics.
Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh became the first Indian athlete to win two athletics medals at a single Commonwealth Games, claiming silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m.
The Indian Army also played a major role in India’s historic boxing campaign, contributing to an unprecedented national achievement that broke a 100-year-old English record.
Sports Becoming More Accessible
Singh said the emergence of champions from different parts of the country showed that Indian sport had become increasingly democratised.
He said sporting success was no longer restricted to a select group and congratulated the athletes for helping expand India’s sporting identity.
Singh also extended his best wishes to the sportspersons for upcoming major events, including the Asian Games and Olympics.
The event at Kartavya Bhavan was attended by Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth and other senior Army officials.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games concluded on August 3, while Ahmedabad is scheduled to host the next edition in 2030, marking the Games’ return to India after two decades.
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