Raksha Mantri interacts with Indian Army contingent

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, today interacted with the members of the Indian Army contingent, which bagged 16 medals – 08 Gold, 07 Silver & 01 Bronze – at the recently-concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Of the total 39 medals – 13 Gold, 17 Silver & 09 Bronze – clinched by India during the Games, the Indian Defence Forces personnel claimed 18 medals (16 by Indian Army and 02 by Indian Navy).

In his address, Raksha Mantri commended the strong will power and firm conviction of the Indian Defence Forces for overcoming physical & mental pressure and making the nation proud at an international sporting event. Terming the achievement as “extraordinary”, he asserted that these sportspersons are a source of inspiration to the people, particularly the youth, as they are a “perfect blend of a soldier and a champion”.

Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth and other senior Indian Army officials attended the event at Kartavya Bhavan, New Delhi. The campaign of the Indian Army contingent at 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games witnessed a number of firsts and records. These include:

Naib Subedar Sarvesh Kushare won India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games Silver Medal in High Jump, a landmark achievement in Indian athletics.

Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh created history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win two athletics medals at a single Commonwealth Games, securing Silver in the 10,000 metres and Bronze in the 5,000 metres.

Havildar Harsh, competing in the 60 kg category, won India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games Gold Medal in Judo, opening a new chapter for the sport in the country.

Subedar Soman Rana and Lance Naik Shubham Juyal created history by securing India’s first-ever Gold and Silver medals in Para Shot put at the Commonwealth Games.

In Weightlifting, Havildar Ajaya Babu produced a record-breaking performance in the 79 kg category, registering a Games Record of 149 kg in the Snatch and an impressive total lift of 330 kg.

In Boxing, the Indian Army made a historic contribution to an unprecedented national achievement by breaking the 100 year old English Record. India won a total of seven Gold medals, the highest number won by any nation in Boxing at a single edition of the Games. Of these 07 Gold and 03 Silver medals, Indian Army pugilists claimed 06 Gold and 02 Silver.(UPDATED ON 14TH AUGUST 2026)