Boxing: Sachin Siwach secures pre-quarterfinal spot
Indian boxer Sachin Siwach has advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the men’s 60kg event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. Siwach defeated Canada’s Keoma Al-Ahmadieh in their opening-round bout held at the Scottish Event Campus. The match was decided by a 4-1 split decision in Siwach’s favour.
The 26-year-old boxer, a former Commonwealth Youth Games champion, maintained his composure through three closely contested rounds. His victory sets up a last-16 clash against England’s Will Hewitt, scheduled for Monday. Siwach’s win makes him the second Indian boxer to progress at the Glasgow Games, following Jadumani Singh Mandengbam’s earlier victory in the men’s 55kg round of 32 on Friday.
The bout started with both southpaw boxers exchanging punches. Siwach’s timing and cleaner connections were key in the first round, with three of the five judges scoring it 10-9 for him. Al-Ahmadieh, a bronze medallist in the 57kg category at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, increased his aggression in the second round. However, Siwach countered effectively, leading all five judges to award him the round.
In the final round, Al-Ahmadieh went on the offensive, but Siwach, holding a healthy lead on the scorecards, adopted a measured approach. Although three judges scored the final round for Al-Ahmadieh, Siwach had built enough of a lead to secure the split decision victory. His next opponent, Will Hewitt, gained attention after upsetting Paris Olympic silver medallist Munarbek Seiitbek Uulu at last year’s World Boxing Championships in Liverpool.
India’s boxing contingent at the Commonwealth Games includes 14 members, with seven men and seven women competing across various weight categories. Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain has already secured at least a bronze medal, having received a direct entry into the semi-finals. Under Commonwealth Games boxing rules, both losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals, guaranteeing India an early medal.
Lawn Bowls: Putul Sonowal faces defeat
In lawn bowls, Putul Sonowal experienced a setback, losing his match against Malaysia’s Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple. The final score saw Dzulkeple win 2-0 in sets. The first set concluded with Dzulkeple leading 8-4, and the second set ended 9-8 in favour of the Malaysian player.
The match saw high drama, particularly in the later ends. In Set 2, End 6, official measuring instruments were used to determine the score, highlighting the tight competition. Sonowal had two blue bowls near the yellow jack, while Dzulkeple’s red bowl was tucked behind the jack, making the call difficult without precise measurement. At that point, Sonowal was down 9-4 in Set 2 and needed multiple points to stay in contention.
Earlier in Set 2, End 5, Dzulkeple secured a significant 4-point advantage, bringing the score to 9-4. Sonowal had been unable to break up a “red blockade,” allowing Dzulkeple to capitalise. Despite a late effort in End 7 where Sonowal picked up 3 points, narrowing Set 2 to 9-8, Dzulkeple maintained his lead to secure the straight-sets victory.
Under the Glasgow 2026 format for Section D, only the section winner advances directly to the semi-finals, with no wildcard entries for runners-up. Dzulkeple currently leads Section D with a perfect 3-0 record, 9 game points, and a +18 shot difference. Sonowal is in second place with 6 game points but has a -8 shot difference, meaning his advancement depends on winning his remaining fixtures convincingly and hoping for a stumble from Malaysia.
Gymnastics: India’s team in action
India’s gymnastics team is also in action, competing for a team medal. The team consists of Eshitaa Rewale, Nishika Agarwal, Pranati Nayak, and Prathistha Samanta. Their scores from the vault apparatus have been recorded, with India currently in fourth position.
Prathistha Samanta made a strong start on the vault, scoring 12.950 on her first attempt and then 13.025, placing her at the top of the vault standings at that moment. Pranati Nayak also performed well, achieving a score of 12.575, which placed her fourth in the vault standings. Her performance keeps hopes alive for reaching the final.
Eshitaa Rewale initiated India’s vault bid with an execution that earned 11.75 for her first attempt, though her landing could have been improved. Nishika Agarwal faced a challenge in her first attempt, receiving a full mark deduction for touching the mat with her hand, resulting in a score of 11.45. Pranati Nayak followed with a score of 11.95 as the team continued to build their scores.
The combined scores of Prathistha, Pranati, and Eshitaa have contributed to India’s current standing. The team will now move on to the next apparatus, continuing their pursuit of a medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026.
India has had a positive start on Day 3, with other athletes also pursuing medals and qualification spots throughout the day.
Source: indiatoday.in
