Soman Rana wins historic men’s F57 shot put gold at Commonwealth Games 2026

India marked a historic milestone in para athletics at the Commonwealth Games 2026 on January 31 as Soman Rana secured gold and Shubham Juyal took silver in the men’s F57 shot put final. This achievement gave India its first-ever gold medal and double podium finish in the event. In a competition dominated by Indian athletes, Soman recorded a best throw of 13.40 metres, narrowly defeating Shubham, who achieved 13.28 metres, according to ESPN. This result represented India’s inaugural gold medal and first one-two finish in the men’s F57 shot put at the Commonwealth Games. Soman’s victory is the result of a remarkable journey marked by resilience. A havildar in the Indian Army, he was previously a leading amateur boxer, finishing fifth at the National Championships in 2005. His sporting career changed when he lost a leg in a landmine explosion while serving with the Gorkha Rifles at the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir in December 2006. During rehabilitation at Pune’s Artificial Limb Centre, Soman found a renewed purpose in para athletics. He joined the Army Paralympic Node in 2017 and has since represented India at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympics. His record also includes a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games and bronze at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships. The Commonwealth Games gold is a significant addition to the 43-year-old’s distinguished career. Shubham’s path to the podium is similarly inspiring. Originally from Roorkee, he aimed to follow his father into the Army and cleared the written exam for the Army Cadet College entry scheme in 2022. However, a motorcycle accident resulting in leg amputation forced him to abandon that ambition. While recovering at the Artificial Limb Centre in Pune, Shubham chose to pursue para sports and joined the Army Paralympic Node under coach Rakesh Singh Rawat. Training alongside elite Indian para athletes, he developed into a leading prospect in the F57 category. Prior to Glasgow, Shubham placed seventh at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships and won medals at the Indian Open Para Athletics Grand Prix, National Para Athletics Championships, and Khelo India Para Games. Both athletes receive support from the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which provides financial assistance for international competitions, coaching camps, training, equipment, and other needs. The gold and silver medals in Glasgow reflect India’s increasing strength in para athletics and contribute to the nation’s successful Commonwealth Games campaign.