Glasgow 2026: India’s Wait For CWG Medal in Shot Put Continues; Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Samardeep Gill Disappoint

Glasgow, July 31: India’s long wait for a maiden Commonwealth Games medal in the men’s shot put continued on Thursday (July 30) after Asian Games champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor finished fifth and Samardeep Singh Gill ended seventh in the final at Glasgow 2026.

Despite fielding two finalists and Toor entering the competition as one of the strongest medal contenders, India was unable to end its medal drought in the event, with Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi producing a sensational late effort to claim gold.

Enekwechi unleashed a championship-winning throw of 21.07m in the fifth round to overtake defending champion Tom Walsh of New Zealand, whose opening effort of 21.03m had kept him atop the standings for most of the evening. England’s Scott Lincoln completed the podium with a best throw of 20.70m.

For India, however, it was another chapter of near misses in an event where the country is still searching for its first-ever Commonwealth Games medal.

Toor Starts Well But Fades Out of Medal Contention

Toor, who had qualified second overall with a throw of 20.14m, looked well placed after the opening round. His first effort of 20.06m moved him into third place behind Walsh and Lincoln.

Samardeep, making his Commonwealth Games final debut, also began steadily with 19.56m, remaining inside the top five after the first series of throws.

The momentum shifted in the second round when Enekwechi improved to 20.48m, pushing Toor down the order. The Indian managed only 19.98m, while Samardeep marginally improved to 19.63m.

Gill finally crossed the 20-metre mark in the third round with a throw of 20.03m, but it was well below his personal and season’s best of 20.46m.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Aiden Smith (20.31m) and New Zealand’s Nick Palmer (20.27m) also entered the 20-metre club, making the medal race increasingly competitive.

Toor responded in the fourth round with 20.27m, which eventually stood as his best mark of the evening and briefly lifted him back into fifth place. However, he was unable to find another big throw, managing 20.26m in the fifth round before finishing with 19.79m.

Moments later, Enekwechi delivered the decisive throw of the competition, launching the shot to 21.07m to snatch gold from Walsh in dramatic fashion.

CWG Medal Still Eludes India

India’s men’s shot put has produced several Asian champions over the years, but the Commonwealth Games podium has remained elusive.

Toor appeared to have his best opportunity in Glasgow after comfortably progressing from qualification with the second-best throw overall. However, he could not replicate that form when it mattered most.

Samardeep, competing in his first Commonwealth Games final, showed glimpses of promise but lacked the consistency required to challenge the leading contenders.

Toor’s Decorated Asian Record

While the Commonwealth medal continues to evade him, Toor remains one of India’s greatest shot putters on the Asian stage.

He won his first Asian Games gold medal at Jakarta 2018 with a Games record throw of 20.75m before successfully defending the title at the Hangzhou Asian Games with 20.36m, becoming only the fourth Indian shot putter to retain an Asian Games crown.

His Commonwealth Games journey, however, has been less rewarding.

He finished eighth at the 2018 Gold Coast Games with 19.42m, missed the 2022 Birmingham Games due to a groin injury, and returned in Glasgow hoping to finally reach the podium. Although he produced the second-best throw in qualification, a best effort of 20.27m in the final was only enough for fifth place.

With the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya next year, Toor will now shift his focus towards defending his continental crown, while Gill will look to build on valuable Commonwealth Games experience as India continues its pursuit of an elusive first men’s shot put medal at the Games.