Was Gurindervir Singh injured before race at CWG 2026? Coach provides major update

The 23rd Commonwealth Games is taking place in Glasgow, Scotland

India’s national record holder Gurindervir Singh suffered a disappointing outing at the Commonwealth Games 2026 on Monday, July 27. The 25-year-old sprinter suffered an early exit from the men’s 100m at the Glasgow Games, clocking 10.39 seconds.

Gurindervir, the fastest Indian sprinter, finished second in Heat 4, but could only manage a 28th-place finish overall. Since only the top 17 sprinters qualified for the semi-finals, Gurindervir failed to progress beyond the heats.

It was a big blow to India’s medal hopes, given the country’s heavy investment in its 32-member athletics contingent. However, head sprint coach James Hillier provided a major fitness update on the sprinter, revealing that Gurindervir had been competing with a hamstring injury for the past month.

Related: India at Commonwealth Games 2026: Athletics schedule, squad, live streaming details

Coach reveals Gurindervir Singh’s injury setback

Following Gurindervir’s elimination, Hillier disclosed that the Indian sprinter had been managing a hamstring injury in the lead-up to the Games, with the team choosing not to make the issue public.

“Everyone will look at the timings and go, ‘Why couldn’t he do his best?’ He’s had a hamstring injury for the last month,” Hillier said, as quoted by Nnis Sports. “We’ve been keeping it quiet. Where he is at now, he can do the first 60m very well.”

It appears that injury was the primary reason Gurindervir could not replicate the form that had made him one of the country’s top medal contenders for the CWG 2026.

Earlier in May, he had become the first Indian sprinter to break the 10.10-second barrier, clocking a national record 10.09 seconds at the National Athletics Federation Cup in Ranchi. He broke Animesh Kujur’s existing record of 10.15 seconds.

Despite Gurindervir’s elimination, the Indian athletics contingent opened their medal tally on Day 4. Sarvesh Kushare clinched silver in the men’s high jump event, clearing 2.25 metres. The gold medal went to Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford.

With as many as 11 medal events being contested on Day 5, India will have the chance to increase their medal tally even more. Currently, the country is eighth in the standings with two golds, five silvers, and three bronzes.

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