5. Samaresh Jung (Shooting)
Kicking off our list is a shooter who produced one of the most remarkable single-Games performances in Indian history. Samaresh Jung, a specialist in air pistol events, has a total of 14 medals, including seven golds. His crowning achievement came at
the 2006 Melbourne Games, where he was dubbed 'Goldfinger' for winning an astonishing seven medals: five gold, one silver, and one bronze. This incredible feat earned him the prestigious David Dixon Award for the most outstanding athlete of the Games, a testament to his dominance and versatility across different pistol disciplines.
4. Abhinav Bindra (Shooting)
A name synonymous with precision and a trailblazer for Indian sport, Abhinav Bindra is fourth on this prestigious list. While best known for his historic individual gold at 2008 Beijing Olympics, Bindra also carved out a formidable legacy at the Commonwealth Games. Across five appearances, he gathered a total of nine medals, comprising five golds, three silvers, and one bronze. His journey began as the youngest participant at the 1998 Games and culminated in 2014 at Glasgow, where he finally won the one prize that had eluded him: an individual Commonwealth gold in the 10m air rifle event.
3. Gagan Narang (Shooting)
Another titan of Indian shooting, Gagan Narang's Commonwealth Games record is nothing short of spectacular. The rifle specialist accumulated 10 medals, an incredible eight of which are gold. Narang's dominance was most palpable during the 2006 Melbourne and 2010 Delhi Games, where he won four gold medals at each edition, becoming a celebrated hero, especially on home soil. His performances in the 10m air rifle and 50m rifle events, both individually and in pairs, established him as one of the most formidable shooters in the Commonwealth.
2. Achanta Sharath Kamal (Table Tennis)
Breaking the shooters' monopoly on this list is the evergreen table tennis legend, Achanta Sharath Kamal. A testament to longevity and sustained excellence, he is India’s most successful non-shooting athlete at the Games with 13 medals. His haul includes seven golds, three silvers, and three bronzes across a stellar career spanning from 2006 to 2022. After winning his first singles gold in Melbourne in 2006, he delivered one of his most dominant performances 16 years later in Birmingham, securing three gold medals and a silver, proving that age is just a number.
1. Jaspal Rana (Shooting)
At the very top stands the undisputed king of Indian athletes at the Commonwealth Games: pistol shooter Jaspal Rana. With a staggering total of 15 medals, he set a benchmark that remains unmatched. Competing in four editions from 1994 to 2006, Rana's collection includes an astounding nine gold, four silver, and two bronze medals. His mastery over centre-fire and standard pistol events made him a dominant force for over a decade. Rana's phenomenal success not only brought individual glory but also played a pivotal role in establishing India as a global powerhouse in shooting.
