India created history in Para athletics at Commonwealth Games 2026. Soman Rana won the first gold medal for the country in the men’s shot put F57 event. Whereas, Shubham Juyal won the silver medal. This was India’s first gold medal in the men’s shot put F57 event at the Commonwealth Games and also the country’s first ‘double podium’ finish in the event.
Soman Rana made a winning throw of 13.40 meters in his second attempt, which no opponent could cross in the rest of the competition. At the same time, Shubham achieved the silver medal position by throwing 13.28 meters in his sixth and last attempt. Cedric Idris Lekjo Ajmadji won the bronze medal for Cameroon with a best effort of 12.57 metres.
Soman made a great start to the competition with an opening throw of 13.38 metres. After this, in his second attempt he improved to a throw of 13.40 meters which won him the gold medal. His third attempt was fouled, while the remaining throws were 13.14 metres, 13.17 meters and 13.11 meters respectively. However, he could not improve on his second round effort, but it was enough to secure the top spot on the podium.
Shubham, on the other hand, showed great consistency during the final. He started with 13.08m, followed by a throw of 12.42m, and then improved to 13.27m in the third round. He then made throws of 13.16 meters and 12.88 meters, and finally made his best throw of 13.28 meters in his last attempt to ensure the silver medal.
The gold medal was another major success for Soman Rana, who achieved the feat after being injured in a mine blast while serving in the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir in 2006. After taking up rehabilitation and para-athletics, Soman, a two-time Paralympic participant, has become one of India’s finest F57 shot putters.
Before winning the historic gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, Soman has also won medals at the Asian Para Games, World Para Athletics Championships and national competitions.
For Shubham, the silver medal was a happy end to a wonderful journey. This Roorkee-born athlete had dreamed of becoming an Army officer, but this dream remained unfulfilled after he lost a leg in a motorcycle accident in the year 2022.
Taking up para-sports during rehabilitation, he joined the Army’s Paralympic Sports Node and quickly rose to the F57 category. Before achieving major success on the Commonwealth Games stage, she won medals at the National Para Athletics Championships, Khelo India Para Games and Indian Open Para Athletics.