Imagine always being just a step behind your idol, learning, pushing, grinding, matching him throw for throw, but never quite breaking through. That was Samardeep Singh Gill’s story in Indian shot put, always second to Tajinderpal Singh Toor. Then came the Federation Cup, and everything changed in a single throw. With a thunderous 19.34-metre heave, Gill didn’t just outshine Toor, he claimed the shot put spot of the reigning Asian champion in India’s squad for the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships.
This wasn’t just a victory; it was a shift in power. In Indian shot put, where the spotlight had long rested on Toor, a two-time Asian Games champion, a new name broke through. Today, that spotlight has switched. It’s safe to say Gill isn’t walking in anyone’s footsteps anymore; he’s carving out a legacy of his own.
He shares with 카지노 his experience of defeating his senior for the first time: “I think he had some injury, he was going for a strong throw, we’ve all seen him do that. But yeah, we all know what he is capable of. I just feel happy and proud that I won, and I also know that we have learned that from him only.”
Samardeep Singh Gill’s Journey: From Cricket Pitch To Shot Put Circle
Gill is 24 now. Standing 6’6” and built like a wall, you’d think he was destined to throw a 7.26 kg metal ball. But surprisingly, shot put wasn’t part of his original plans. He dreamed of becoming a cricketer. “I was just a fat, tall kid back then, hoping to be a right-arm pace bowler,” he laughs.
Fate took him into the shot put circle. Family friend, Jagminder, a former shot put athlete, noticed his potential. “He looked at me and said, ‘I’ll make him fit,’” Gill recalls. Day by day, Jagminder trained him, and at 18, Gill made the switch, and never looked back. Soon after, he won his first medal, a district gold. From that moment on, the shot put circle became his life.
“It’s been a rollercoaster, with plenty of ups and downs,” he says. “But I never gave up. My dream has always been simple: to make India proud.”
When asked about facing Toor, Gill says, “I’m happy to have secured first place, but Toor paaji is a senior with great experience. He holds both the national and meet records, and I aspire to be like him.” The youngster adds, “He’s always been kind to me and to everyone. When I won, he congratulated me, and that meant a lot.”
Gill’s journey truly changed when he met his coach, K Sandeep Singh, who hails from the Army Corps of Signals, at Bhopal’s Tatya Tope Stadium. “He’s strict when it comes to training, but always there to support me,” Gill explains.
“He plans every detail and helps me overcome every hurdle, whether on the field or off it. I work on faith; if the people around me, my family, my coach, tell me that I can do it, then I believe I can. Faith works for me. After that, I just focus on my technique. I’m incredibly grateful for his guidance.”
With that support, Gill pushed his personal best from 17 to 19 metres, an achievement he proudly owns as a milestone in his career.
Gill also opens up about the toughest phase of his career, competing professionally without a coach. “When I started shot put in the early stages, there was no coach for me, and I struggled a lot,” he said. “But reaching my highest point so far and winning these medals makes all those struggles worth it.”
On sponsorships, Gill doesn’t shy away from the harsh reality many young athletes face. He admits, “I don’t have any sponsors yet.”
Samardeep Singh Gill On Staying Grounded: No Sponsors, Just Faith, Family, And Focus
Despite having no sponsors, Gill stays deeply grateful for the support that has carried him this far, especially from his coach, his parents, and the MP academy. He treasures his family’s presence, saying, “It means everything when my parents come to watch me compete. Winning in front of them makes it all the more special.”
His father Mahendra Singh Gill, a Railways employee, and his mother Manjeet Kaur have been his rock through it all. “They’ve stood by me every step of the way. Everything I’ve achieved is because I know they’re always there.”
But what’s next for Gill? “This is just the beginning,” he says. “I want to break the 20-metre mark and win at international tournaments, making the country proud. Every time I improve my performance in competitions, it motivates me to set new targets and chase bigger goals.”
Gill competes at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi on May 29, with the men’s shot put event scheduled for 1:35 PM IST. After defeating Toor at the national meet, Gill is no longer just a newcomer; he’s stepping up to lead the next wave.
“I’m not here as Toor paaji’s rival or just the new guy who defeated him,” Gill says. “We are competitors, sure, but more like a junior and senior in the arena. I want to maintain the fear he has given other competitors in international tournaments, and I hope I do that. I still have a long way to go.”
Indian athletics is growing stronger, with experienced athletes supporting fresh talent. This isn’t about rivalry; it’s about building a legacy together.
As India’s sole shot putter at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships, Gill is ready to make his mark on the big stage.
