Top five Indian track & field athletes who could spring surprise at Commonwealth Games 2026

Athletics events will be held from July 27 to August 1, 2026, featuring nearly 60 medal events.

The Indian athletics team for the Commonwealth Games 2026 is headlined by established stars like Neeraj Chopra, Murali Sreeshankar and Praveen Chithravel. However, beyond the headline names, a group of emerging athletes have quietly built impressive resumes and head to Glasgow in top form.

Here are five Indian track and field athletes who could exceed expectations and emerge as surprise medal contenders at the Commonwealth Games 2026.

Indian track and field athletes who could surprise in Glasgow

Gulveer Singh (5000m & 10,000m)

Over the past two seasons, the Asian champion has rewritten the national record books in the 3000m, 5000m and 10000m and firmly established himself as the face of India’s distance-running revolution.

Gulveer scripted history earlier this year by becoming the first Indian to complete a half marathon in under an hour. Backed by steady improvements in endurance, race management and finishing speed, he enters Glasgow as one of India’s strongest medal hopes in the distance events.

Rohit Yadav (Javelin Throw)

While much of India’s attention will be on Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav enters Glasgow as one of the country’s most in-form throwers. The 24-year-old produced a career-best 87.05m throw at the National Inter-State Championships this season to top the Indian javelin rankings.

A right elbow ligament tear derailed Rohit Yadav’s career and forced him to undergo surgery and miss the Asian Championships, Asian Games and the Paris Olympics.

After a lengthy rehabilitation, the javelin thrower has returned in impressive form in 2026. Sharing the field with Neeraj Chopra could help Rohit Yadav fly under the radar and challenge for a podium finish.

Lokesh Sathyanathan (Long Jump)

Lokesh Sathyanathan has steadily emerged as one of India’s brightest long jump prospects after forging an unconventional route through the American collegiate system.

The Bengaluru-born athlete enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2026 and became the first Indian long jumper to win an NCAA title while also setting a new national indoor record.

A personal best of 8.21m earned him qualification for Glasgow, where he will make his Commonwealth Games debut. If he can replicate the consistency he displayed in the United States, Lokesh has the potential to challenge more experienced competitors for a place on the podium.

Selva Prabhu (Triple Jump)

Among India’s emerging field-event stars, Selva Prabhu stands out as one of the brightest talents. His breakthrough came in 2023 when he became the first Indian recipient of the Asian Athletics Association’s Best Asian Under-20 Male Athlete of the Year award.

The Tamil Nadu athlete added another milestone this season by winning the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a leap of 16.92m.

Still only at the beginning of his senior career, Selva heads to Glasgow with momentum and could announce himself on the Commonwealth stage with a breakthrough performance.

Sarvesh Kushare (High Jump)

The 2026 season has been a defining one for Sarvesh Kushare. The Indian high jumper not only broke the national record with a 2.31m clearance but also became the country’s first athlete in the discipline to finish on the podium at a Diamond League meeting.

Although he will face experienced rivals including New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr, Kushare’s current form suggests he has all the tools to challenge for a medal and perhaps even produce one of India’s biggest surprises of the Games.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.