Samardeep Singh Gill Eyes 21m Mark in Shot Put After Valuable CWG Learning Experience | Exclusive

New Delhi, Aug 5: Samardeep Singh Gill arrived at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow as one of India’s fastest-rising shot putters. The competitive field in Scotland was always going to be a challenge for the Indian shot putters, but a stronger performance was expected from Gill and his compatriot and senior Tajinderpal Singh Toor.

Fresh from a series of career-best performances, the Madhya Pradesh athlete had broken the 20-metre barrier multiple times this season and believed he was capable of challenging for a medal on one of the biggest stages of his career. Instead, Glasgow became a lesson in adaptation.

Gill eventually finished seventh in the men’s shot put final with a best effort of 20.03m, after opening with throws of 19.56m and 19.63m before crossing the 20-metre mark in his third attempt.

His challenge, however, faded after he couldn’t produce a better result in the next three consecutive attempts in the final round, which he intentionally fouled to not register them. Fellow Indian shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor finished 5th with his best attempt of 20.27m.

While the result fell short of his expectations, the 23-year-old has no intention of dwelling on disappointment. Instead, the lanky athlete is using the experience as motivation ahead of the Asian Games 2026, where he hopes to break the coveted 21-metre barrier and contend for a medal.

‘The Weather Was the Biggest Challenge’

Upon his arrival from Glasgow, Gill told myKhel that the freezing conditions and strong winds in Glasgow caught him off guard.

“The weather conditions were very difficult for me. Right now, I am sweating just sitting here, but in Glasgow it was extremely cold. It wasn’t only the temperature; the wind was very strong throughout the competition,” the athlete stated.

He explained that training sessions and qualification had gone relatively smoothly because the warm-up areas were protected from the wind. The conditions, however, changed drastically by the time the final began.

“The first day of practice went well because the warm-up circle was covered. Even during qualification, the weather suited me. But in the final, the wind became much stronger.”

Gill admitted that adapting to unfamiliar conditions is now an area he wants to improve. “I’ll accept that I couldn’t adapt. That’s my mistake. I’ll work on it because if the weather had been in my favour, I believe I could have thrown much farther.”

A Promising Start Before Momentum Slipped Away

At the Scotstoun Stadium the Indian began the final confidently, gradually improving through his opening three attempts before registering his best throw of 20.03m. At that stage, he remained firmly in contention for a higher finish.

However, after the field was reduced to the top eight throwers, the competition paused briefly before the remaining attempts resumed. Gill believes that break made the already difficult conditions even tougher.

“After they selected the top eight, there was a gap before the competition restarted. During that time, my body cooled down very quickly.”

The cold also affected his ability to grip the shot. “The shot was so cold that when I kept it on my neck, even my neck became sore. My fingers were numb.”

Gill revealed that he sought medical assistance during the competition simply to regain feeling in his hands. “I had to go to the doctor and get my fingers stretched because I couldn’t even feel them properly.”

Despite those challenges, he refused to use the conditions as an excuse. “That’s not an excuse. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Learning to Adapt at the Highest Level

For Gill, Glasgow highlighted one of the biggest differences between competing in India and performing consistently on the international circuit.

“In India, we understand the weather because we train in it every day. Internationally, you have to adapt much faster to completely different conditions.”

He believes that ability can only improve with experience. “If the conditions change, we should immediately know what adjustments to make. That is something I have learnt from this competition.”

Rather than viewing Glasgow as a setback, Gill considers it another important step in his development as an international athlete.

Staying Warm Became Part of the Competition

The unusual weather even became a topic of discussion among several competitors. “We were all talking about how cold it was.”

Unable to jog properly in throwing shoes during the lengthy wait between attempts, athletes looked for different ways to keep themselves warm.

“Everyone was wearing beanies. I even wrapped my hands with one because my fingers get cold very quickly. I wore inner gloves as well, but as soon as I took them off, the cold returned because the wind never stopped.”

Gill also had the opportunity to interact with former world champion Tom Walsh, whose technique he has long admired. “I spoke to Tom Walsh because I model certain aspects of my throwing style on him.” Walsh – the champion athlete from New Zealand – clinched the Gold at CWG 2026.

He acknowledged that athletes from countries with colder climates naturally cope better in such environments. “They come from weather conditions similar to Glasgow, so adapting is easier for them.”

The 21-Metre Dream

Although Glasgow did not unfold as he had hoped, Gill remains optimistic about what lies ahead. His immediate focus is the Asian Games, where he wants to convert the lessons from the Commonwealth Games into a stronger performance. “I’ll definitely do well at the Asian Games and make India proud.”

More importantly, he has set himself an ambitious technical target. “I want to break the 21-metre barrier.” Gill believes the progress he has made over the past year gives him confidence that the milestone is within reach.

“I was throwing really well before coming here. With the support of my coaches, the Athletics Federation of India and the Sports Ministry, I believe I can perform much better.”

After returning home, Gill plans to take a brief break before sitting down with his coach to finalise his competition schedule ahead of the Asian Games.

For a young athlete still finding his feet on the international stage, Glasgow may not have delivered the medal he wanted. But it provided something equally valuable-experience. And if Samardeep Singh Gill’s confidence is anything to go by, the lessons learnt in Scotland could prove instrumental as he chases the biggest throws of his career in the months ahead.