India’s 126-member athlete contingent for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games marks a major generational shift. Due to a highly condensed 10-sport format, which excluded traditional Indian medal strongholds like shooting, wrestling, badminton, and hockey, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and national federations focused heavily on youthful high-performers in athletics, gymnastics, and boxing.
Youngest Indian Players to Participate in Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Nishka Agarwal- (Artistic Gymnastics) (17 years old):
Nishka Agarwal, a 17-year-old sensation from Telangana, is the youngest athlete representing India at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Coached by Manoj Rana, the Hyderabad prodigy transitioned seamlessly into the senior division following a dominant domestic junior run. She made international waves by capturing a gold medal on the table vault at the Pharaoh's Cup in Cairo.
Widely celebrated for training a highly complex quadruple twist, a skill not yet written into the official FIG Code of Points, she spearheads the four-member women's artistic gymnastics squad alongside veteran Olympian Pranati Nayak.
Selva Prabhu Thirumaran- (Track and Field- Triple Jump) (21 years old):
Selva Prabhu Thirumaran, a 21-year-old triple jump maestro born in December 2004, represents the next generation of India’s horizontal jumpers. Developing his explosive power through the rigorous United States NCAA collegiate track circuit, Selva Prabhu routinely registers jumps past the elite 16.50-metre boundary.
His outstanding consistency on the international stage earned him a highly sought-after provisional spot on the Indian track and field roster. He forms a lethal dual-medal threat for India in the triple jump event alongside senior teammate Praven Chithravel.
Dev Meena- (Track and Field- Pole Vault) ( 21 years old):
Dev Meena, born in May 2005 in Madhya Pradesh, is a 21-year-old pole vault prodigy. He secured his provisional Commonwealth Games ticket after an incredible domestic season. At the 2026 National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, Meena stole national headlines by soaring over a National Record height of 5.46 metres.
Trained under the target Asian Games Group and TOPS schemes, his steady vertical climb positions him as one of the most exciting young field athletes in the 32-member Indian athletics contingent, ready to challenge a world-class field in Glasgow.
Preeti Pawar- (Boxing: 54 kgs) (22 years old):
Preeti Pawar, a sharp 22-year-old southpaw from Haryana, is a frontline medal contender in the women’s 54kg bantamweight division. Already an Asian Games bronze medallist, Pawar reached elite global status by capturing gold at the World Boxing Cup Finals. She officially stamped her ticket to Glasgow at the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar, where she put on a clinical masterclass to defeat Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Im Ae-ji by a 5-0 unanimous decision.
Animesh Kujur- (Track and Field- Sprinter) (23 years old):
Animesh Kujur, a 23-year-old sprinting powerhouse from Chhattisgarh, stands as India’s premier speed merchant. Raised in the challenging zones of Bastar, Kujur has broken historical barriers, notably becoming the first-ever Indian male sprinter to qualify for the World Athletics Championships. He locked down his 2026 Commonwealth Games berth during the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition by shattering the men's 100m national record in a lightning-fast 10.15 seconds. He will double down in Glasgow, targeting medals in both the 100m and 200m disciplines.
