Who are India's top medal contenders at Para Commonwealth Games 2026?

Several top Indian para-athletes will participate at the Commonwealth Games 2026.

The Indian contingent will comprise 126 athletes, including para-athletes, for the Commonwealth Games 2026, to be held from July 23 to August 2.

This 10-sport tournament will feature six events for para-athletes. Para table tennis and para triathlon will not be part of the upcoming edition.

There will be 47 para-sport medal events, the biggest integrated para-sport programme in CWG’s 96-year history. Indian athletes will again have a chance to repeat their heroics in para sports. On that note, let’s take a look at India’s top five medal contenders at the Para Commonwealth Games 2026.

Sudhir (Para Powerlifting)

Sudhir, who initially won gold at the 2022 Birmingham Games but later had to give up the medal owing to an anti-doping rule violation, will try to make a brilliant comeback in the upcoming edition.

His biggest achievement came at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where he won the gold medal in the men’s heavyweight event and set a Commonwealth Games record. It was India’s first-ever gold medal in para powerlifting at the Commonwealth Games.

Sudhir has also won a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games and a silver medal at the 2022 African Open World Para Powerlifting Championships. He has been a dominant force at home as well, winning the Indian National Championship six times.

Jaspreet Kaur (Para Powerlifting)

Para Powerlifter Jaspreet Kaur will enter the upcoming tournament after setting a national record of 101kg last year.

Jaspreet produced the best lift of her career at the Khelo India Para Games 2025 in New Delhi, lifting 101kg in the women’s 45kg category to win gold and set a new national record, surpassing her own previous best of 100kg set just a week earlier.

Jaspreet will make her debut at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and emerge as one of India’s new inspiring faces in para-powerlifting.

Suyash Jadhav (Para Swimming)

Suyash Jadhav, an Asian Para Games medalist, will spearhead the team. The country is still trying to achieve a much-needed breakthrough in this event after Prasanta Karmakar won bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The Indian contingent suffered a huge blow when Tejas Nandakumar was dropped from the tournament, as the organisers didn’t approve his inclusion due to an outdated international classification review status.

Lisha Das (Para Cycling)

The young Lisha Das will be the only one to represent India in this event, and she is also the youngest Indian athlete. Her qualification is a huge achievement for Indian para cycling, and it shows how much this sport has grown in the last few years.

Lisha announced her arrival on the national stage by winning the gold medal at the 2025 National Para Road Cycling Championship.

She followed it up with two gold medals at the Lanna Cup, a bronze at the Korat Cup, and an outstanding haul of two silver and three bronze medals at the 2026 Asian Para Track Championships.

Dilip Gavit (Para Athletics)

Dilip Gavit is one of India’s top para-sprinters and holds the World No. 1 ranking in both the men’s 100m T46 and 400m T46 categories this year.

The 23-year-old, who will make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, is primarily a 400m runner but has rapidly risen among the world’s best in the 100m.

In 2023, Dilip made his debut at the World Para Athletics Championships in Tokyo and came very close to reaching the podium, finishing fourth in the 400m T47 category. He might have missed out on the medal, but secured his place for the 2024 Paris Paralympics and India’s squad for the Asian Para Games 2023.

He achieved his greatest success at Hangzhou 2023, where he won the gold medal in the men’s 400m T47 category at the Asian Para Games.

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