India opened its medal account at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in style as Jhandu Kumar clinched a bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting event. The day also saw impressive performances from Indian athletes across para swimming, boxing, gymnastics, and lawn bowls, highlighting a strong all-round campaign.
Jhandu Kumar Secures India’s First Medal at CWG 2026
Jhandu Kumar scripted an inspiring success story by winning India’s first medal of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The 28-year-old para powerlifter, who battled polio during childhood and overcame financial hardships, claimed the bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting category.
Jhandu earned 130.9 points after successfully lifting 181kg and 190kg, finishing on the podium and giving India its breakthrough medal of the tournament.
Fellow Indian Sudhir finished sixth in the same event with 114.1 points.
Ashok Malik Narrowly Misses Podium Finish
India came close to adding another medal in para powerlifting as Ashok Malik finished fourth in the men’s lightweight competition with 143.8 points, missing the podium by a narrow margin.
Another Indian lifter, Paramjeet Kumar, ended the event in seventh place with 135.6 points.
In the women’s competitions, Kasthuri Rajamani could not register a successful lift in the heavyweight final, while Jaspreet Kaur and Suman Devi also finished outside the medal positions in the lightweight category.
Karthik Budigina Finishes Fourth in Para Swimming
India narrowly missed another medal after Karthik Budigina secured fourth place in the men’s 100m Freestyle S13 final.
Budigina clocked 57.57 seconds, finishing just short of the podium in a highly competitive race.
His teammate Imam Ali crossed the finish line in seventh position with a timing of 1:03.73.
Meanwhile, in the able-bodied swimming events, Srihari Nataraj failed to qualify for the men’s 50m backstroke final, finishing seventh in the semifinal.
Jadumani Singh Advances in Boxing
Indian boxer Jadumani Singh produced a commanding display to defeat Scotland’s Aaron Cullen in the men’s 55kg Round of 32.
Despite competing in front of a home crowd supporting his opponent, Jadumani dominated the contest and secured a unanimous decision victory.
He will now face Sumama Rehman of Pakistan in the pre-quarterfinals.
Indian Gymnasts Reach All-Around Final
India enjoyed encouraging results in artistic gymnastics as Tapan Mohanty and Yogeshwar Singh qualified for the men’s all-around final.
Mohanty finished with 71.700 points, while Yogeshwar scored 71.400, placing 17th and 18th respectively. Both progressed to the 24-man final, subject to the two-per-country qualification rule.
In apparatus events:
- Swathish Kaitheri Puthalath became the second reserve for the rings final after scoring 12.450.
- Yogeshwar Singh was also named second reserve for the vault final with 12.600 points.
India finished seventh in the men’s team standings with a combined score of 208.550, while Canada claimed the team title.
Women’s Lawn Bowls Pair Remains Unbeaten
India continued its excellent run in the women’s pairs lawn bowls competition as Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh registered their second straight victory.
The Indian duo defeated South Africa’s Thabelo Muvhango and Jacqui Janse van Rensburg 2-0 (6-4, 7-5) in their Section B match at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) Hall 3.
The win keeps India at the top of the Section B standings, strengthening their chances of advancing to the knockout rounds.
Putul Sonowal Extends Winning Streak
Assam Police officer Putul Sonowal continued his impressive campaign after overcoming Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands in a thrilling second-round match in Section D.
After rallying from a 3-4 deficit to win the opening set 7-5, Sonowal saw Alexander level the match by taking the second set 8-6.
The contest went into a tie-break, where the Indian held his nerve to secure victory and continue his unbeaten run.
Sonowal had already made headlines earlier in the tournament by defeating reigning world champion Ryan Bester of Canada in his opening match.
India Builds Early Momentum at CWG 2026
With Jhandu Kumar’s historic bronze medal opening India’s account and several athletes delivering strong performances across multiple disciplines, the Indian contingent has made a positive start to the Commonwealth Games 2026. Strong displays in para powerlifting, boxing, gymnastics, lawn bowls, and para swimming have boosted India’s confidence as the competition moves into its next phase.