India’s historic medal surge on day 5 of CWG 2026.

Breakthroughs in athletics and para sports power India to 10 medals.

India’s Commonwealth Games campaign reached a new high on Day 5 as the nation’s medal tally swelled to ten, thanks to landmark performances across athletics, para-athletics, and weightlifting. The day was marked by historic firsts, emotional victories, and a continuation of India’s dominance in strength sports.

The spotlight shone brightest on Sarvesh Kushare, who etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian to win a silver medal in the men’s high jump at the Games. Clearing 2.25m, Kushare matched Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford but settled for silver on countback. His achievement surpassed Tejaswin Shankar’s bronze from Birmingham 2022, making him India’s most successful high jumper at the Commonwealth stage. Meanwhile, teammate Adarsh Ram finished fifth, and Shankar withdrew to focus on the decathlon.

In para-athletics, Sharmila Dhankar delivered a golden moment by winning the women’s F57 shot put with a season-best throw of 9.81m. Her triumph ended India’s two-decade wait for a para-athletics medal at the Games. The celebrations doubled when Shilpa Shyla was upgraded to bronze after a successful protest, giving India a memorable one-three finish in the event.

Weightlifting once again proved to be India’s medal engine. Valluri Ajaya Babu secured silver in the men’s 79kg category with a total lift of 330kg, narrowly missing gold by a single kilogram. Earlier, Gyaneshwari Yadav claimed silver in the women’s 53kg division, while Bindyarani Devi added bronze in the 58kg category. These podium finishes reinforced weightlifting as India’s most reliable source of success, contributing six medals overall.

India’s boxers also kept medal hopes alive. Sachin Siwach, Ankush, and Sakshi Chaudhary advanced to the quarterfinals with commanding victories, though Sumit bowed out after a close defeat. In athletics, M Sreeshankar and Lokesh Sathyanathan qualified for the long jump final. At the same time, hurdler Tejas Shirse made history by reaching the 110m hurdles final, despite an injury derailing his medal bid. Sprinter Gurindervir Singh, however, endured disappointment in the 100m heats.

Elsewhere, swimming and gymnastics brought limited joy, with finalists finishing outside podium positions. India’s 3×3 basketball team and lawn bowls campaign also ended without medals.

Day 5 will be remembered as a turning point, where India not only expanded its medal count but also achieved historic breakthroughs in athletics and para sports, signaling a new era of promise at the Commonwealth Games.