"Tajinder Singh Toor is not my rival" Samardeep Singh Gill after breaking the Meet record at Khelo India University Games [Exclusive]

Samardeep Singh Gill has quickly become one of the most exciting young shot put athletes in India, transforming from a former cricketer to a national champion in this competitive field. The 24-year old athlete, who trains at the Madhya Pradesh Athletics Academy, has seen his career take off this year, consistently achieving throws above 19m that put him in the elite category.

His rise has seen him challenge, and often defeat, the established national record holder, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, marking a critical shift in the Indian shot put landscape.

Gill’s performance this year has been defined by his ability to consistently cross the 19m mark, a key achievement that shows his growth in the sport. He recorded his personal best throw of 19.82m at the National Inter-State Championships in Chennai, where he secured a gold medal. This consistency has made him a reliable force in the sport, and his throws are now viewed as a strong benchmark in domestic competitions, raising the bar for shot put in India.

Recently, Samardeep Gill showcased his amazing consistency at the Khelo India University Games in Jaipur, where he improved on his own All India University mark and set a new Khelo India University Games record. He clinched the gold medal with a throw of 19.42m on his second attempt, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure and maintain his excellent run of form, even while managing a minor ankle injury.

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Exclusive Interview with Samardeep Singh Gill after record-breaking throw at Khelo India University Games

Following his impressive performance and gold medal win at the Khelo India University Games, the rising shot put star Samardeep Singh Gill shared his thoughts on his record-breaking throw, future goals, and rivalry with Tajinder Singh Toor, in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda at Khelo India University Games.

On being asked about how he felt after breaking the meet record in the first throw and his rivalry with Tajinder Singh Toor, Samardeep said:

“I was just thinking of the first throw to be good and was focusing on my technique. I had complete faith in God and was happy to further strengthen the meet record by 19.42m in the second throw. My relationship with Tajinder Singh Toor is not at all a rivalry, he is really a great senior who has the national record so it is always a great learning experience to compete with him. He had also helped me in measuring my foul throw of 20m in the interstate competition.”

He further added that he is consistently throwing above 19m but still does not consider 20m as a barrier, with his coach suggesting the same.

On being asked about his coach, his journey and future plans, Samardeep replied:

“The best piece of advice I got from my coach was that the past is the past and the future is the future, stay only in the present. Talking about my journey, I started as a cricket player but one of my coaches asked me to give a try to the shot put event looking at my physique. He asked me to give it a try and I did give it a try and now I am here. My coach has asked me to focus on events like the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. I still have to make a map of next year's competitions with my coach to get a clear idea of what all we will participate in.”

Samardeep Singh Gill further complemented Khelo India University Games and initiatives like Fit India as they give athletes the right platform to practice their routines. He was also very happy with the infrastructure and arrangements made by Khelo India University Games 2025 for the atheletes.