Good performance in 2026 will be a launching pad for 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, says Gill’s coach Sandeep Singh

India’s rising thrower— Samardeep Gill— has elaborate plans for the 2026 season. Physical fitness, says Gill’s coach Sandeep Singh will be one of the key areas in the training programme in the 2026 season.

 “We are taking the 2026 season seriously because it will be a stepping stone for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games,” the shot putter’s coach told Sportsbackstory.com. “A podium finish at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland and Asian Games in Japan in 2026 will certainly act as a launching pad for the 2028 Olympics.”

Madhya Pradesh Athletics Academy

Based out of Madhya Pradesh’s athletics academy in Bhopal, Gill on Friday clinched gold medal in men’s shot put with a meet record on the opening day of the 4th edition of the South Asian Athletics Championships here at Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Stadium.

Gill’s winning throw of 19.59m was better than the previous record of 17.71m set by Satyendra Kumar Singh of India in 2008. The 24 years old has a personal best of 19.82m recorded in Chennai earlier in August.

South Asian Athletics Championships

It has been a long season. Gill and his coach were satisfied with the performance in South Asian Athletics Championships. The young athlete plans to take a short break before shifting his focus to prepare for the 2026 season.

Apart from emphasis on physical fitness, focus will also be on technique. “For a steady performance it’s important to have a good foundation,” explained Gill’s coach during an interaction session on Saturday.

“The 2025 season was all about steady performance of throwing over 19m. But our goal in the 2026 season will be to achieve a steady performance of plus 20m.”

State U16 cricket team

Gill has his roots in Gujarat but practices in Bhopal. The youngest of the two siblings of a Railway officer from Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh) was a cricketer in his formative years of school. “I was selected for the state (Madhya Pradesh) U16 cricket team,” Gill revealed. “But was dropped from the team for the national meet.”

As a teenager the towering six feet five inches and weighing more than 100kg, was a medium pacer.

And, with the bat he was a big hitter. To further excel in cricket, he wanted to improve his fitness and went to take lessons in physical fitness from his father’s friend. “After training for some weeks, I was told by my uncle to try a shot put. I was excited,” Gill recalled switching to athletics from cricket.

Covid19

But he missed junior competition partially due to injury and Covid-19 pandemic.

Then he joined the athletics academy in Bhopal in early 2021. He met his new coach (Sandeep Singh). The association has been fruitful. 

Post Covid-19, Gill steadily established himself as the leading shot putter in the senior group. He gradually scaled barriers to join the 19m club in shot put.

After winning gold with a throw of at the South Asian Athletics Championships in Ranchi, the promising shot putter and his coach are looking forward to a bright 2026.

“We will give our best,” Gill said before he signed off to have his lunch.

ENDS