India capped off a memorable outing in para athletics at the 2026 Commonwealth Games as Dilip Mahadu Gavit won the gold medal with a Games record in the men’s 100m T47, while compatriot Mohammed Basil Morssinganakathi claimed silver to complete a historic Indian one-two.
Gavit stormed to victory in 10.71 seconds, breaking the previous Games record to secure India’s third gold medal of the Games. Basil followed closely with a season-best effort of 10.83 seconds, ensuring India finished first and second in one of the fastest races of the competition.
England’s Kevin Santos claimed the bronze medal in 10.85 seconds, narrowly ahead of Australia’s Jaydon Page, who finished fourth in 10.97 seconds.
The result underlined India’s growing strength in para athletics, with both sprinters delivering outstanding performances on the Glasgow track. Gavit’s record-breaking run and Basil’s podium finish further boosted India’s medal tally.
The one-two finish took India’s overall medal count to 15 at the Games, comprising three gold, nine silver and three bronze medals.
Gavit, who hails from Toran Dongari village near Nashik in Maharashtra, overcame significant adversity to emerge as one of India’s leading para-athletes. Born into a farming family, he suffered a severe injury to his right arm after falling from a tree at the age of five or six. The injury developed into gangrene due to delayed medical treatment, resulting in the amputation of his arm below the elbow.
Undeterred by the setback, Gavit pursued his passion for running, training on the village’s dusty roads before being spotted by coach Vaijnath Kale, who guided him into professional para athletics.
Gavit had earlier won the gold medal in the men’s 400m T47 event at the 2022 Asian Para Games, where he secured India’s landmark 100th medal of the competition. He also reached the final of the men’s 400m T47 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
(With IANS inputs)
