Indian sprinter Gurindervir Singh, a key contender for medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, faced an unexpected setback in the men's 100m heats, which dashed his hopes for a medal and impacted India's overall medal tally.

Prior to the Commonwealth Games, Gurindervir generated significant excitement by becoming the first Indian male athlete to clock under 10.10 seconds in the 100m event. He achieved this remarkable feat at the Federation Cup in Ranchi, where he set a new national record with a time of 10.09 seconds in May, surpassing the previous record set just a day earlier by Animesh Kujur.

However, despite the pre-event buzz, Gurindervir struggled to meet expectations during his Commonwealth Games debut. He recorded a time of 10.39 seconds in the heats, which was insufficient to qualify for the semi-finals, as only the top 17 athletes advanced. Ultimately, he finished 28th out of 73 competitors. A time of 10.24 seconds would have secured him a semi-final spot, but it was not to be for the promising athlete.

The athletics segment of the Commonwealth Games 2026 commenced with a focus on the men's high jump final, showcasing a formidable Indian team. National record holder Sarvesh Kushare will compete alongside former record holder Tejaswin Shankar and Aadarsh Ram Jothi Shankar, setting the stage for an exciting contest.

Kushare and Shankar's rivalry is particularly noteworthy, as both are seen as India's strongest medal prospects in this event. Earlier this month, Kushare broke Shankar's eight-year-old national record with an impressive jump of 2.31 meters in Bhubaneswar. He enters the Glasgow 2026 competition in excellent form, having recently secured third place at the Monaco Diamond League. Although Shankar has shifted his focus to the decathlon in recent years, he remains a prominent figure in Indian athletics, having won a bronze medal in the men's high jump at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which was India's sole medal in this event.

Additionally, another national record holder, Tejas Shirse, is set to kick off his men's 110m hurdles campaign in the heats, with the final scheduled for later in the day if he qualifies.