Some athletes wait a lifetime for glory. These five didn’t wait for adulthood. India’s history at the Commonwealth Games is dotted with teenage prodigies who turned pressure into podium moments, and their stories remain some of the most inspiring in the country’s sporting journey.
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The Youngest of Them All
Topping the list is shooter Anish Bhanwala, who claimed gold at just 15 years, 10 months and 9 days at the 2018 Gold Coast Games. Competing against far more seasoned rivals, he topped qualification with 580 points before firing a Games-record 30 in the final to beat Australia’s Sergei Evglevski and England’s Sam Gowin.
Top 5 Youngest Indian Gold Medallists in Commonwealth Games history
| Rank | Athlete | Age at Gold | Games | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anish Bhanwala | 15y 10m 9d | Gold Coast 2018 | 25m Rapid Fire Pistol |
| 2 | Manu Bhaker | 16y 1m 21d | Gold Coast 2018 | 10m Air Pistol |
| 3 | Naveen Malik | 19y 8m 16d | Birmingham 2022 | Wrestling 74kg Freestyle |
| 4 | Jeremy Lalrinnunga | 19y 9m 5d | Birmingham 2022 | Weightlifting 67kg |
| 5 | Vinesh Phogat | 19y 11m 4d | Glasgow 2014 | Wrestling 48kg Freestyle |
Stories Behind the Medals
Manu Bhaker’s Gold Coast triumph announced her as a shooting fixture well before her later World Cup dominance. Jeremy Lalrinnunga defied a pulled muscle, elbow injury and severe cramps to set Games records in both snatch and total lift at Birmingham. Naveen Malik stunned seasoned wrestlers in his CWG debut, while Vinesh Phogat’s Glasgow gold kicked off a historic hat-trick of titles across three different weight categories and three separate editions.
Why It Matters
These early triumphs weren’t flashes in the pan — each athlete went on to build decorated careers on the global stage, cementing India’s growing depth in shooting, wrestling and weightlifting. Full historical records are available on the official Commonwealth Games Federation website.
For more Commonwealth Games stories and Indian sporting milestones, check out our Sports section on TechnoSports.
