Youngest Indian Commonwealth Games Medallists: 5 Athletes Who Made History Before Turning 18
Winning a medal for India at the Commonwealth Games is a dream shared by every athlete. While many spend years competing at the highest level without reaching the podium, a few extraordinary talents have achieved this milestone before even turning 18.
These young athletes not only won medals at one of the biggest sporting events but also announced themselves as future stars on the international stage. Here's a look at the five youngest Indian Commonwealth Games medallists , led by shooter Anish Bhanwala, who still holds the record as India's youngest CWG medallist.
Making her Commonwealth Games debut at just 17, Ghosh had already established herself as one of India's brightest shooting talents. Earlier that year, she set a junior world record and won two ISSF World Cup medals in Mexico. She later added another major achievement to her career by winning gold at the 2019 South Asian Games.
The final turned out to be full of surprises. Sidhu exited in seventh place, while Goel found herself battling Singapore's Shun Xie Teo for the gold medal. Although she eventually settled for silver after finishing just 1.5 points behind, the youngster from West Bengal proved her immense potential and strengthened India's reputation in shooting.
At the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Bhaker showcased her exceptional talent by winning gold in the women's 10m air pistol event with a Games record score of 240.9.
Her success continued throughout the year as she became the youngest Indian to win an ISSF World Cup gold medal. The confidence and experience she gained as a teenager later helped her win two Olympic bronze medals in Paris.
That year proved to be a breakthrough season for Nehwal. Alongside her CWG success, she won the Philippines Open and became the youngest Asian player to capture a four-star badminton title.
She returned to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi four years later and won the women's singles gold medal. In 2012, she created history again by becoming India's first Olympic badminton medallist.
At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the 15-year-old shooter stunned the field in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol event. Even before the final, Bhanwala had demonstrated his class by topping the qualification round with 580 points and 22 central bulls.
He then delivered a spectacular performance in the final, scoring a Games record 30 out of 40 to defeat Australia's Sergei Evglevski and England's Sam Gowin, who was still two years older than him.
Interestingly, Bhanwala had switched from modern pentathlon to shooting only a few years earlier. By 2017, he had already won five medals and set a world record at the Junior World Championships, highlighting his extraordinary talent.
With his gold medal victory on the Gold Coast, Bhanwala became the youngest Indian athlete ever to stand on top of the Commonwealth Games podium. As of now, no other Indian athlete has come close to breaking that remarkable record.
These young athletes not only won medals at one of the biggest sporting events but also announced themselves as future stars on the international stage. Here's a look at the five youngest Indian Commonwealth Games medallists , led by shooter Anish Bhanwala, who still holds the record as India's youngest CWG medallist.
5. Mehuli Ghosh (17 years, 4 months, 20 days)
Mehuli Ghosh came agonisingly close to winning gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. In the women's 10m air rifle final, she finished level with Singapore's Martina Veloso on 247.2 points, forcing a dramatic shoot-off that Veloso narrowly won.Making her Commonwealth Games debut at just 17, Ghosh had already established herself as one of India's brightest shooting talents. Earlier that year, she set a junior world record and won two ISSF World Cup medals in Mexico. She later added another major achievement to her career by winning gold at the 2019 South Asian Games.
4. Malaika Goel (16 years, 9 months, 2 days)
Malaika Goel's silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow remains one of India's most memorable underdog stories. Going into the final, all eyes were on Heena Sidhu, who had topped the qualification round and was widely expected to win gold. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Goel had only just made it into the final after qualifying in fourth place.The final turned out to be full of surprises. Sidhu exited in seventh place, while Goel found herself battling Singapore's Shun Xie Teo for the gold medal. Although she eventually settled for silver after finishing just 1.5 points behind, the youngster from West Bengal proved her immense potential and strengthened India's reputation in shooting.
3. Manu Bhaker (16 years, 1 month, 21 days)
Manu Bhaker's rise in Indian shooting has been nothing short of remarkable. She first picked up a pistol at the age of 14, and within two years, she had already broken Heena Sidhu's national record at the 2017 National Championships.At the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Bhaker showcased her exceptional talent by winning gold in the women's 10m air pistol event with a Games record score of 240.9.
Her success continued throughout the year as she became the youngest Indian to win an ISSF World Cup gold medal. The confidence and experience she gained as a teenager later helped her win two Olympic bronze medals in Paris.
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2. Saina Nehwal (16 years, 2 days)
Before becoming one of India's greatest badminton players, Saina Nehwal earned her first Commonwealth Games medal at just 16 years and two days old. She was part of the Indian mixed team that won the bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.That year proved to be a breakthrough season for Nehwal. Alongside her CWG success, she won the Philippines Open and became the youngest Asian player to capture a four-star badminton title.
She returned to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi four years later and won the women's singles gold medal. In 2012, she created history again by becoming India's first Olympic badminton medallist.
1. Anish Bhanwala (15 years, 10 months, 9 days)
Anish Bhanwala holds the distinction of being India's youngest Commonwealth Games medallist, a record that still stands today.At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the 15-year-old shooter stunned the field in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol event. Even before the final, Bhanwala had demonstrated his class by topping the qualification round with 580 points and 22 central bulls.
He then delivered a spectacular performance in the final, scoring a Games record 30 out of 40 to defeat Australia's Sergei Evglevski and England's Sam Gowin, who was still two years older than him.
Interestingly, Bhanwala had switched from modern pentathlon to shooting only a few years earlier. By 2017, he had already won five medals and set a world record at the Junior World Championships, highlighting his extraordinary talent.
With his gold medal victory on the Gold Coast, Bhanwala became the youngest Indian athlete ever to stand on top of the Commonwealth Games podium. As of now, no other Indian athlete has come close to breaking that remarkable record.
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