India had its most successful day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Sunday, adding one gold and two silver medals to bring its total tally to four. Indian weightlifters were prominent, with boxers also continuing their strong performances.
Mirabai Chanu, an Olympic silver medallist, secured her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal. This achievement was complemented by silver medals from Rishikanta Singh and Raja Muthupandi in weightlifting. In boxing, Jadumani Singh advanced to the quarter-finals, and Preeti Pawar also moved forward with a stoppage victory. The men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team qualified for and competed in the final.
Chanu’s Historic Gold and Weightlifting Success
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu reaffirmed her status as a leading Indian weightlifter by winning the gold medal in the women’s 48kg category. Despite an initial unsuccessful attempt, she delivered a dominant performance, achieving a combined lift of 190kg. She established a new Commonwealth Games record of 85kg in the snatch and lifted 105kg in the clean and jerk to secure the title.
This victory marks a hat-trick of Commonwealth Games gold medals for Chanu, following her wins in Gold Coast in 2018 and Birmingham in 2022. Her overall medal count at the Commonwealth Games now stands at four.
Rishikanta Singh Chanambam earned a silver medal in the men’s 60kg event. The lifter from Manipur successfully lifted 116kg, 119kg, and 121kg in the snatch, with his best effort matching the Commonwealth Games record. He managed 143kg in the clean and jerk, finishing with a total lift of 264kg. Malaysia’s Muhammad Anik bin Kasdan took gold with a Games-record total of 273kg, while Kenya’s Joshua Amunga Buoya secured bronze with 260kg.
Raja Muthupandi contributed another silver medal for India in the men’s 65kg category. The lifter from Tamil Nadu recorded 126kg in the snatch and 160kg in the clean and jerk, achieving a combined total of 286kg. Malaysia’s Muhamad Aznil Bin Bidin won gold with a Commonwealth Games record total of 299kg, and Papua New Guinea’s Morea Baru claimed bronze with 282kg. This silver medal marks a return to the podium for Muthupandi, who previously finished sixth in Gold Coast in 2018 and missed Birmingham 2022 due to injury.
Boxing and Swimming Performances
Indian boxers had a productive day. Jadumani Singh Mandengbam defeated Pakistan’s Sumama Rehman with a unanimous 5-0 decision in the men’s 55kg Round of 16, advancing to the quarter-finals. He is scheduled to face England’s Ellis Trowbridge in the next round. In the women’s 54kg Round of 16, Preeti Pawar secured a dominant win against Malawi’s Deborah Mtenje by referee stops contest (RSC), also moving to the quarter-finals.
However, India experienced one setback in boxing as Aditya Pratap Yadav lost to Uganda’s Nuhu Batte in the men’s 65kg Round of 16 by a 3-2 split decision.
The men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team, comprising Srihari Nataraj, Aryan Nehra, Aneesh Gowda, and Dhakshan Shashikumar, qualified for the final after finishing third in their heat. The team recorded a time of 7:39.48. Later in the evening, the same quartet competed in the medal race, finishing sixth in the Commonwealth Games final.
Mixed Results in Other Sports
India faced challenges in lawn bowls. Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh lost to Namibia in a women’s pairs sectional play tiebreak and subsequently to England, ending their campaign. In men’s singles, Putul Sonowal was defeated by Malta’s Shaun James Parnis.
Artistic gymnast Tapan Mohanty finished 15th in the men’s all-around final. Additionally, India’s women’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball team lost 21-4 to Scotland in Pool B. India concluded Day 4 with four medals overall, consisting of one gold, two silvers, and one bronze.
Day 4 Results Summary for India
- Weightlifting: Mirabai Chanu won gold (women’s 48kg), Rishikanta Singh won silver (men’s 60kg), Raja Muthupandi won silver (men’s 65kg).
- Boxing: Jadumani Singh defeated Pakistan’s Sumama Rehman 5-0 (men’s 55kg Round of 16), Preeti Pawar defeated Malawi’s Deborah Mtenje by RSC (women’s 54kg Round of 16), Aditya Pratap Yadav lost 3-2 to Uganda’s Nuhu Batte (men’s 65kg Round of 16).
- Swimming: Men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team qualified for the final and finished sixth.
- Lawn Bowls: Women’s pairs lost to Namibia and England, men’s singles lost to Malta’s Shaun James Parnis.
- Gymnastics: Tapan Mohanty finished 15th in the men’s all-around final.
- Wheelchair Basketball: India lost 21-4 to Scotland in Women’s Pool B.
The boxing contingent continues to build momentum as they head into the quarter-final stage.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
