Anish Bhanwala: The Youngest Gold Medalist
In 2018, at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, shooter Anish Bhanwala made history by becoming India's youngest-ever gold medallist at the event. At just 15 years old, he showed nerves of steel in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol event. Bhanwala didn't
just win; he dominated, setting a new Games record with a score of 30 in the final. His performance was a showcase of immense composure as he led the field, which included more experienced shooters, from start to finish. The victory was so significant that it bettered the record set by his teammate Manu Bhaker just days earlier, cementing a remarkable phase for Indian teenage shooters.
Manu Bhaker: The Pistol Prodigy
Just before Anish Bhanwala's historic win in 2018, another teenager, Manu Bhaker, had her golden moment. At 16, Bhaker clinched the gold medal in the women's 10m air pistol event, also setting a Commonwealth Games record with a score of 240.9. Bhaker, who had only taken up shooting professionally two years prior, displayed a level of calm and precision that belied her age. She had been a favourite, having won gold at the ISSF World Cup earlier that year, but to deliver such a commanding performance on the Commonwealth stage, beating her senior teammate Heena Sidhu, was a testament to her prodigious talent.
Deepika Kumari: Archery's Golden Girl
Long before the shooting prodigies of 2018, archer Deepika Kumari captured the nation's heart at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. At just 16 years old, she won two gold medals, a stunning achievement for the young athlete from Ranchi. Kumari first triumphed in the women's team recurve event alongside her teammates and then went on to win the individual recurve gold as well. Her double-gold performance on home soil was a landmark moment for Indian archery and catapulted her into the international spotlight, eventually leading her to the world number one ranking in 2012.
Jeremy Lalrinnunga: Weightlifting Powerhouse
At the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, 19-year-old weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga announced his arrival on the senior international stage with a powerful performance. Competing in the men's 67kg category, the Mizo athlete lifted a combined total of 300kg to secure the gold medal. His effort included a new Games record of 140kg in the snatch portion of the event. Having already been the first Indian to win gold at the Youth Olympics in 2018, Lalrinnunga's victory in Birmingham, achieved despite battling injuries, confirmed his status as one of India's brightest prospects in the sport.
Abhinav Bindra: A Glimpse of Future Glory
While he would later become India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra’s journey to the top included a significant teenage victory at the Commonwealth Games. In 2002, at the Manchester Games, a 19-year-old Bindra won his first Commonwealth gold. He secured the top spot on the podium in the men's 10m air rifle pairs event. Although he won silver in the individual event at the same Games, this early gold was a crucial stepping stone. It was an early indicator of the incredible success that would follow in a career that spanned over two decades and brought more than 150 medals for India.
