Shubham Juyal, who won silver in the men’s F57 sitting shot put at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, knows that cricket enjoys a special place in India.
But he hopes athletes from other sports can also get the same love and support from the country.
Juyal, a Lance Naik in the Indian Army, returned to his hometown of Roorkee in Haridwar district with a Commonwealth Games silver medal and received a warm welcome from the local residents.
Speaking exclusively to The Daily Jagran, Juyal spoke about his love for cricket and revealed that he grew up watching Sachin Tendulkar. He also follows two of Indian cricket’s biggest stars, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, and considers them his sporting idols.
“I have grown up watching Sachin Tendulkar, and my sporting idols are MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli because they have this hot-and-cold, or rather, “hot ice” combination. I have followed both of them closely. MS Dhoni taught me how to stay calm and composed during tough times, especially when things are not going in your favour, while Virat Kohli taught me how to dominate the opposition with aggression and a winning mindset,” he said.
I have never met either of them, but I would love to meet them someday. If I get the opportunity, I would definitely have a conversation with MS Dhoni about how he manages to stay so calm under pressure, and with Virat Kohli about his mentality and approach to the game” Juyal exclusively told The Daily Jagran.
For Juyal, the Commonwealth Games silver is an important milestone, but he already has his eyes on a bigger target. The para-athlete wants to win a medal for India at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics and is focused on performing well in the competitions that lead up to the Games.
“My ultimate aim is to win a medal for India at the Los Angeles Paralympics. And I’ll perform my best in other events that come in between so that there are even better results for India in LA 2028,” he said
His journey to the Commonwealth Games podium has been far from easy.
Four years ago, a motorcycle accident changed Juyal’s life. He lost his leg above the knee and, with it, his dream of becoming an Indian Army officer seemed to have slipped away.
But Juyal refused to let the accident decide what came next.
From spending days in intensive care to standing on the Commonwealth Games podium with a silver medal around his neck, he has come a long way. His silver medal in the men’s F57 shot put in Glasgow is not just another achievement. It is the latest chapter in a remarkable comeback story that has already inspired many.