CWG 2026: Gulveer, Harjinder win silver as Amit Shah hails historic feats
Synopsis
Gulveer Singh broke a historic barrier at CWG 2026 in Glasgow, becoming the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men's 10,000m — a silver clocked at 27:49.78 in the rain. On the same day, weightlifter Harjinder Kaur added silver in the 69kg category with a 227kg combined lift, reinforcing India's weightlifting dominance at Glasgow.
Key Takeaways
Gulveer Singh became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men's 10,000m , clocking 27:49.78 for silver at CWG 2026 in Glasgow .
Harjinder Kaur won silver in women's 69kg weightlifting with a combined lift of 227kg (snatch: 101kg , clean and jerk: 126kg ).
Canada's Charlotte Simoneau took gold with 240kg ; Australia's Nya Phebe Hayman claimed bronze with 218kg .
Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated both athletes via posts on X on 29 July .
Gulveer's accolades also include a bronze at the Asian Games and double gold at the Asian Athletics Championships .
Home Minister Amit Shah on 29 July congratulated Gulveer Singh and Harjinder Kaur on claiming silver medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, with Gulveer scripting history as the first Indian to win a CWG medal in the men's 10,000m and Harjinder reinforcing India's dominance in weightlifting.
Gulveer's Historic 10,000m Silver
Gulveer Singh etched his name into the record books by becoming the first Indian athlete to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men's 10,000m event. Battling rain-soaked conditions in Glasgow, the national record holder kept pace with the lead pack before unleashing a powerful finishing burst on the final lap, clocking 27:49.78 to claim silver behind Australia's Ky Robinson.
The achievement adds to Gulveer's already impressive portfolio, which includes a bronze at the Asian Games and a double gold at the Asian Athletics Championships, further establishing him as one of India's premier long-distance runners.
Shah praised the feat on X, writing: 'Kudos to Gulveer Singh for setting the remarkable milestone of winning India's first-ever medal in the 10000M in the Commonwealth Games with a silver. Your feat will inspire budding players to win more honours for the nation. Best wishes for your future endeavours.'
Harjinder Kaur Adds to Weightlifting Haul
Harjinder Kaur claimed silver in the women's 69kg weightlifting category with a combined lift of 227kg, registering 101kg in the snatch and 126kg in the clean and jerk. Canada's Charlotte Simoneau took gold with a total of 240kg, while Australia's Nya Phebe Hayman secured bronze with 218kg.
The Punjab lifter's podium finish continued India's strong run in weightlifting at the Glasgow Games, where the discipline has once again emerged as one of the country's most reliable medal contributors.
Shah also posted on X to honour Harjinder: 'India continues its medal haul in weightlifting. Way to go, Harjinder Kaur. Your well deserved victory with a silver medal in women's 69 Kg in #CWG2026 symbolises your hard work and dedication. Many more triumphs will shine in your path.'
India's Campaign at CWG 2026
The twin silvers on 29 July added another memorable chapter to India's Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign. Notably, Gulveer's medal breaks a long-standing barrier in Indian athletics — the country had never previously stood on the CWG podium in the men's 10,000m — while Harjinder's result underscores the depth India has built in weightlifting over successive Commonwealth cycles.
With the Games in Glasgow still underway, India's medal tally is expected to grow further across disciplines where the country has historically performed well.
Point of View
000m silver is more than a personal milestone — it signals a structural shift in Indian athletics. Long-distance running has historically been an afterthought in India's CWG planning, dominated by sprinters and field athletes. That a national record holder can now compete with Australia's best in a gruelling rain-soaked 10km is a data point worth tracking. Harjinder's silver, meanwhile, fits a familiar pattern: weightlifting remains India's most reliable CWG conveyor belt, yet it rarely gets the mainstream attention it deserves. The question worth asking is whether the Athletics Federation and Sports Authority will now build a dedicated pipeline around Gulveer's breakthrough rather than treating it as an individual outlier.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What historic feat did Gulveer Singh achieve at CWG 2026?
Gulveer Singh became the first Indian athlete to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men's 10,000m, claiming silver at CWG 2026 in Glasgow with a time of 27:49.78. He finished behind Australia's Ky Robinson, who took gold.
What was Harjinder Kaur's result at CWG 2026?
Harjinder Kaur won the silver medal in the women's 69kg weightlifting event at CWG 2026 with a combined lift of 227kg — 101kg in the snatch and 126kg in the clean and jerk. Canada's Charlotte Simoneau won gold with 240kg.
Why did Amit Shah congratulate Gulveer Singh and Harjinder Kaur?
Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X on 29 July to congratulate both athletes on their silver medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. He called Gulveer's feat a 'remarkable milestone' and praised Harjinder's dedication in the weightlifting event.
What other achievements does Gulveer Singh have?
Gulveer Singh's medal haul includes a bronze at the Asian Games and double gold at the Asian Athletics Championships, making him one of India's most decorated active long-distance runners ahead of CWG 2026.
How is India performing in weightlifting at CWG 2026?
India has continued its strong tradition in weightlifting at the Glasgow Games, with Harjinder Kaur's silver in the 69kg category adding to the country's overall medal tally. Weightlifting has consistently been one of India's biggest contributors at Commonwealth Games.
