India’s para discus thrower Sagar Thayat is set to represent the country in the F43/44 categories at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland, running from Thursday until August 2. The 26-year-old is heading into the Games with a clear target: better his competition-best throw of 51.93 metres from the World Para Athletics Championships 2025, a mark he believes he can surpass after stronger distances in training.
Thayat’s journey to the CWG stage has been shaped by a life-altering accident in 2012 that left both his ankles seriously damaged. He said the incident occurred while he was at Dehradun Sports College, adjoining Army firing ranges, when a mortar was mistakenly thrown into the hostel. He recalled spending two and a half years in hospital, undergoing more than 20 surgeries, dropping out of school and returning in 2015, with recovery taking another five to six years.
Now, after building a resume that includes international medals and a growing profile in Indian para athletics, Thayat is looking ahead to Glasgow with confidence and a focus on translating training form into competition throws.
From accident recovery to para sport pathway
Thayat started out as an able-bodied athlete before the 2012 accident changed his life. He later found his way into para sport and described a key turning point in 2019, when he learned about para athletics after reading about Devendra Jhajharia in newspapers. Jhajharia is described as the first Indian to win two gold medals at the Paralympics, and Thayat said that later, after being selected to the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Gandhinagar, he got the opportunity to train with him.
In the same year, Thayat competed at the Para Athletics Nationals in shot put. He said he was a junior at the time but won a silver medal in the senior category. That performance helped him earn selection to represent India at the Para Athletics Junior World Championship in Switzerland, where he won gold in shot put and finished fourth in discus.
Thayat explained that his pathway then moved through the Khelo India scheme, noting that all medal winners were directly selected. He said this led to his admission to the NCoE, Gandhinagar, where his coach Madhu Kumar and coach Sunil advised him to switch from shot put to discus because shot put is not part of the Paralympics. With the Paralympics in mind, Thayat made the change and has continued to develop in the discus event.
He represents Uttar Pradesh in the nationals and has since collected notable results, including a gold medal at the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix (2025), another gold at the Indian Open Para Athletics International Championships (2026), and a bronze at the Tunisia Para Athletics Grand Prix (2023). He also registered a competition-best throw of 51.93 metres at the World Para Athletics Championships 2025.
Looking ahead to the Commonwealth Games, Thayat said he has thrown up to 55–56 metres in training and expressed confidence that he can improve on 51.93m when it matters in Glasgow.
Training base, role models and support system
Thayat credited the SAI NCoE in Gandhinagar as a key foundation for his development, saying his training started in earnest there. He described it as a “fabulous facility” with very good coaching and necessary support, calling it the premier facility for para athletes in India and noting that it is disability-friendly.
He also highlighted the influence of his coach, Madhu Kumar, naming him as his role model. Thayat said he has never told his coach directly that he is his idol, but praised his ability to explain points clearly and suggest improvements in an affectionate manner, “just like an elder brother.” He added that the advice he receives is to avoid stress and implement what has been learned in training over the years, without trying anything different during competition.
Beyond the training environment, Thayat acknowledged the role of his family during his injury and recovery period. He said his relatives at home—including his uncle, aunts and father—were supportive, did not insist he get a job, and backed him when he decided to pursue his passion. He is also pursuing a BA through open learning.
With the CWG 2026 schedule set through August 2, Thayat’s focus is now on bringing his training distances into competition and delivering a new best in Glasgow in the F43/44 categories.
