Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday interacted with members of the Indian Army contingent that represented India at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Army athletes delivered a strong performance at the international sporting event, winning 16 medals — eight gold, seven silver and one bronze, according to the Defence Ministry.India finished the Games with 39 medals, including 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze. Defence Forces personnel contributed 18 medals to India's overall tally, with the Army accounting for 16 and the Navy for two.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Army athletes won 16 medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The haul included eight gold, seven silver and one bronze.
Defence Forces personnel won 18 medals for India overall. Indian women boxers delivered a particularly strong performance.
Harsh Singh won India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold in judo. Sarvesh Kushare secured India's first Commonwealth Games silver in high jump.
Soman Rana and Shubham Juyal won India's first gold and silver medals in para shot put. Gulveer Singh became the first Indian athlete to win two athletics medals at a single Commonwealth Games.
Ajaya Babu recorded a Games record of 149 kg in the snatch in the 79 kg weightlifting category.
Addressing the athletes at Kartavya Bhavan in New Delhi, Rajnath Singh praised their determination and ability to handle both physical and mental pressure.
He described their achievement as “extraordinary”, saying the athletes had made the country proud and represented a combination of military discipline and sporting excellence.Singh said the athletes could serve as an inspiration for India's youth, particularly as more young people look towards sport as a serious career and a means of representing the country internationally.
Women Boxers Stand Out
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
For the Armed Forces, international sporting success is about more than medals. Athletes representing India at major events also showcase the discipline, resilience and determination associated with military service. Their performances can inspire young Indians to pursue sport while demonstrating that a career in the Armed Forces can provide a platform for elite competition.
The Defence Minister also drew attention to the performance of India's women boxers.Four of India's six boxing gold medals at the Games came from Indian women, a result Singh described as a reflection of the growing strength of Nari Shakti in Indian sport.He expressed hope that such performances would encourage more girls to take up boxing and consider opportunities within the Defence Forces.
Singh also noted that sporting talent is emerging from different parts of the country and that competitive sport is becoming increasingly accessible rather than remaining limited to a small section of society.
Notable Performances
Harsh Singh — Judo
- Won India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in judo in the 60 kg category.
Sarvesh Kushare — High Jump
- Won India's first Commonwealth Games silver medal in high jump.
Gulveer Singh — Athletics
- Won silver in the 10,000 metres and bronze in the 5,000 metres, becoming the first Indian athlete to win two athletics medals at one Commonwealth Games.
Soman Rana & Shubham Juyal — Para Shot Put
- Secured India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold and silver medals in para shot put.
Ajaya Babu — Weightlifting
- Registered a Games record of 149 kg in the snatch and recorded a total lift of 330 kg.
