India witnessed a special moment at the 2026 Commonwealth Games as para-athletes Dilip Mahadu Gavit and Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath finished first and second in the men’s 100-metre T47 final, creating a historic one-two finish for the country in para athletics.
Gavit produced a remarkable performance on a rain-soaked track to win the Commonwealth Games gold medal in a Games-record and season-best time of 10.71 seconds. Basil followed him across the finish line in 10.83 seconds, also recording his season-best timing to secure the silver medal.
England’s Kevin Santos took the bronze in 10.85 seconds. The closely fought race gave India two medals in the same para athletics event and added another memorable chapter to the country’s campaign at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026.
For Gavit, the victory was particularly meaningful because the gold came after a journey marked by personal hardship, limited facilities and a chance encounter with a coach who recognised his potential.
Gavit, who comes from a rural part of Maharashtra, lost his left hand after adequate medical facilities were unavailable when he needed them. Growing up with limited access to sports infrastructure, he nevertheless developed into a promising athlete.
His coach, Vaijanth Kale, spotted him while he was still in school and persuaded his parents to allow him to train. At that stage, Gavit had little knowledge of para athletics. He was competing against able-bodied athletes and was already performing well.
Before making the transition to para athletics, Gavit won two medals at the Khelo India Youth Games in Pune and another medal at the Under-18 level. His early performances convinced his coach that he had the ability to compete at a much higher level.
Training in Nashik eventually helped him develop his sprinting career and brought him to the Commonwealth Games stage.
The conditions in Glasgow were far from ideal for the 100m final. Rain had left the track wet, making it difficult for athletes to warm up and find their rhythm.
Gavit admitted that his start was slower than he wanted. But as the race progressed, he found his pace and pulled away to secure the gold.
The 10.71-second performance not only gave him the Commonwealth Games title but also established a new Games record. Basil’s 10.83 seconds earned him silver and ensured that India occupied the top two positions on the podium.
The T47 classification is used in para athletics for athletes with a unilateral arm impairment or absence that affects strength, movement or coordination on one side. The event therefore brought attention not only to India’s medal tally but also to the growing presence and achievements of Indian para-athletes on the international stage.
The result also strengthened India’s overall position in the CWG 2026 medal tally. According to the latest figures from News On AIR, Gavit’s gold and Basil’s silver took India’s total to 15 medals — three gold, nine silver and three bronze — placing the country eighth in the standings at that stage.
Gavit’s gold was India’s third gold medal at the Glasgow Games. Earlier, Mirabai Chanu had won gold in the women’s 48kg weightlifting event, while Sharmila Dhankar had secured gold in the women’s F57 shot put in para athletics.
The day had already begun positively for India in athletics, with Murali Sreeshankar winning silver in the men’s long jump. His medal was significant as it made him the first Indian men’s long jumper to win two Commonwealth Games medals.
Gavit, however, is already looking beyond Glasgow. Rather than treating the Commonwealth Games gold as the end of his journey, he has set his sights on future international competitions, including the Para Asian Games in Japan and the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.
His immediate ambition is clear: to keep winning medals and improve further.
The success of Gavit and Basil also adds momentum to India’s para sports programme. Their one-two finish demonstrates how athletes from different backgrounds can reach the highest level when talent is supported by coaching, training and competitive opportunities.
For Gavit, the Glasgow victory represents far more than a medal. It is the culmination of a journey that began in rural Maharashtra, continued through limited sporting facilities and eventually reached one of the biggest multi-sport events in the world.
For Basil, the silver represents another major achievement on the Commonwealth stage. Together, the two sprinters gave India a historic result — one that combined sporting excellence with a powerful story of determination and resilience.
India’s campaign in Glasgow continues, but the 100m T47 final will remain one of its standout moments. On a difficult, rain-soaked evening, Gavit and Basil ensured that the Indian flag occupied the top two spots on the podium and gave the country another reason to celebrate its Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign.
