CWG 2026: Soman Rana wins historic gold, Shubham Juyal silver in Shot Put F57
Synopsis
Two Indian para athletes — one a mine-blast survivor who served in the Army, the other a young man who lost a leg in a road accident — stood first and second on the Commonwealth Games podium in Glasgow on 1 August. Soman Rana's 13.40m gold and Shubham Juyal's 13.28m silver gave India its first-ever double podium in Men's Shot Put F57, a result as much about human resilience as athletic excellence.
Key Takeaways
Soman Rana won India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold in Men's Shot Put F57 with a throw of 13.40m on 1 August 2026 in Glasgow .
Shubham Juyal claimed silver with a final-attempt throw of 13.28m , completing India's maiden double podium in the event.
Cameroon's Cedric Idriss Lekezo Azamdzi took bronze with a best of 12.57m .
Soman, a two-time Paralympian, overcame a mine blast injury sustained while serving with the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir in 2006 .
Shubham, from Roorkee , lost a leg in a motorcycle accident in 2022 and trained through the Army's Paralympic Sports Node .
Soman Rana scripted history for India at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on 1 August, claiming the country's first-ever gold medal in the Men's Shot Put F57 para athletics event. Compatriot Shubham Juyal completed a landmark one-two for India by securing silver, giving the nation its maiden double podium finish in the discipline.
How the Final Unfolded
Soman set the tone early with an opening throw of 13.38m before improving to the gold-winning mark of 13.40m on his second attempt — a distance no rival could match. His third attempt was a foul, and his remaining throws of 13.14m, 13.17m, and 13.11m, while consistent, were not needed. The 13.40m effort stood as the winning throw from the second round onwards.
Shubham's path to silver was built on composure and a stunning finish. He opened with 13.08m, dipped to 12.42m in the second round, then steadily climbed — 13.27m, 13.16m, 12.88m — before producing his best throw of 13.28m on his sixth and final attempt to lock in the silver-medal position. Cameroon's Cedric Idriss Lekezo Azamdzi took bronze with a best effort of 12.57m.
Soman Rana: From Army Minefield to Commonwealth Podium
Soman's gold is among the most remarkable stories in Indian para sport. The former soldier suffered a career-threatening mine blast injury while serving with the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir in 2006. After extensive rehabilitation, he channelled his resilience into para athletics and has since become a two-time Paralympian. His medal cabinet already includes podium finishes at the Asian Para Games, the World Para Athletics Championships, and national-level competitions. The Commonwealth Games gold is the crowning achievement of that journey.
Shubham Juyal: A Roorkee Dream Rebuilt Through Para Sport
For Shubham Juyal, born in Roorkee, the silver medal represents a remarkable rebuilding of purpose. His ambition of joining the Army as an officer was derailed after he lost a leg in a motorcycle accident in 2022. Turning to para sport during rehabilitation, he enrolled with the Army's Paralympic Sports Node and advanced rapidly in the F57 category. Medals at the National Para Athletics Championships, Khelo India Para Games, and the Indian Open Para Athletics preceded his breakthrough on the Commonwealth stage.
India's Historic Double
The one-two finish is India's first-ever double podium in the Men's Shot Put F57 at the Commonwealth Games. It underscores the growing depth of India's para athletics programme, which has benefited from structured support systems such as the Army's Paralympic Sports Node. Notably, both medallists share a connection to military service — one as a decorated veteran, the other as an aspirant — lending the achievement a singular emotional weight. India's para athletics contingent will look to build on this momentum in the remaining events at Glasgow 2026.
Point of View
Which raises a pointed question: how many more Somans and Shubhams are waiting in that system without access to elite competition exposure? The Commonwealth Games podium is the headline; the structural investment that produced it deserves equal scrutiny and replication. India's para sport ecosystem remains underfunded relative to its talent pool, and a single historic double should not obscure that gap.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the gold medal in Men's Shot Put F57 at CWG 2026?
Soman Rana won the gold medal in Men's Shot Put F57 at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow with a winning throw of 13.40m on 1 August. It is India's first-ever gold in this event at the Commonwealth Games.
What was Shubham Juyal's winning throw for silver at CWG 2026?
Shubham Juyal secured silver with a throw of 13.28m, produced on his sixth and final attempt in the Men's Shot Put F57 final. The effort moved him into the silver-medal position at the last moment.
What is the F57 classification in para athletics?
F57 is a para athletics field classification for athletes who compete in a seated position and have full arm and hand function but limited trunk movement, typically due to spinal cord injuries or limb impairments. Shot put in the F57 class is thrown from a fixed frame or throwing frame.
What is the significance of India's double podium in Shot Put F57?
It is India's first-ever double podium finish — gold and silver — in Men's Shot Put F57 at the Commonwealth Games. The result reflects growing depth in India's para athletics programme, particularly through the Army's Paralympic Sports Node.
How did Soman Rana take up para athletics?
Soman Rana suffered a mine blast injury while serving with the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir in 2006. After rehabilitation, he took up para athletics and became a two-time Paralympian, winning medals at the Asian Para Games and World Para Athletics Championships before his historic CWG gold.
