Mohammed Basil Aims for Better Timing After Silver Medal Win at Commonwealth Games

Glasgow, July 30: The Commonwealth Games 2026 witnessed a remarkable achievement for India as two medals were secured in the men’s 100 meters T47 final. Dilip Mahadu clinched the gold medal, while Mohammed Basil delivered a stellar performance to earn silver. Basil expressed his joy at winning a medal in his first international event.

In an interview, Basil stated, “I am very happy and excited because this is my first international competition. I will return to the next competition with better timing. My timing today was affected by the weather. I want to dedicate this medal to my coach, family, and all my supporters.” He completed the 100 meters race in 10.83 seconds to secure the silver medal.

Basil hails from a small town called Veliyancode in Malappuram, Kerala. He is training at LNCPE-SAI in Thiruvananthapuram under coach Srinivasan while pursuing a degree. Through hard work and dedication, Basil has made a name for himself as a para-athlete. In the same final, Dilip finished the race in 10.71 seconds, earning the gold medal.

Dilip shared that his life changed after being taken under the wing of his coach. He remarked, “Today is Guru Purnima, so this medal is a gift for my guru. I fell from a tree in my childhood, which led to the amputation of one of my hands. My coach saw me running and spoke to my family. There were some difficulties at home, so my coach took me in and has done everything for me. I train in Nashik, and today I felt great running.”

Dilip also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for supporting para-athletes. He said, “I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting para-athletes. The Paralympics, SAI (Sports Authority of India), and our government have been very supportive, which has allowed us to bring pride to our country. When I was younger, people mocked me and said many things, but I ignored them. After my coach took me in, I live with him. I will also strive to perform well in the Asian Games. I am currently not working, as my coach believes our priority should be winning a gold medal for the country at the Olympics.”