Mirabai Chanu wins third Commonwealth Games gold for India in Glasgow, contributing to a three-medal day. Indian boxers excel, and the men’s swimming relay team
India experienced its most successful day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, securing one gold and two silver medals. This brought the nation’s total medal count to four. Boxers continued their strong performances, and the men’s swimming relay team reached another final.
Mirabai Chanu led India’s achievements on Day 4, earning her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal. Additionally, Rishikanta Singh and Raja Muthupandi each contributed silver medals in weightlifting events.
Chanu’s Golden Hat-trick
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu reinforced her status as a prominent Indian weightlifter by winning the gold medal in the women’s 48kg category. The Tokyo Olympic silver medallist overcame an initial unsuccessful attempt to deliver a dominant performance, achieving a combined lift of 190kg.
She established a new Commonwealth Games record with an 85kg snatch before successfully lifting 105kg in the clean and jerk, securing her title. This victory marks her third successive Commonwealth Games gold, following her wins in Gold Coast in 2018 and Birmingham in 2022. This achievement brings her total Commonwealth Games medal count to four.
Her performance included shattering Commonwealth and Commonwealth Games records in the snatch, and setting new CWG marks in both the clean and jerk and overall total. Her 190kg total lift, comprising 85kg in snatch and 105kg in clean and jerk, demonstrated her dominance. The silver medallist, Ruth Asuquo Nyong of Nigeria, finished with a total lift of 168kg, 22kg behind Chanu’s winning effort.
Despite a nervous start with an unsuccessful opening snatch attempt at 82kg, Chanu quickly recovered. She also faced a moment of uncertainty in the clean and jerk, failing her first attempt, but successfully lifted 105kg on her second try. With the gold secured, Chanu opted not to take her third attempt, reportedly with the Asian Games in mind.
Weightlifting Silvers and Boxing Progress
Rishikanta Singh Chanambam earned a silver medal in the men’s 60kg event. The 28-year-old lifter successfully cleared 116kg, 119kg, and 121kg in the snatch, with his best lift matching the Commonwealth Games record. He then lifted 143kg in the clean and jerk, finishing with a total of 264kg. Muhammad Anik bin Kasdan of Malaysia took gold with a Games-record total of 273kg, while Joshua Amunga Buoya of Kenya secured bronze with 260kg.
Raja Muthupandi added another silver for India in weightlifting, competing in the men’s 65kg category. He lifted 126kg in the snatch and 160kg in the clean and jerk, resulting in a combined total of 286kg. Muhamad Aznil Bin Bidin of Malaysia claimed gold with a new Commonwealth Games record total of 299kg, and Morea Baru of Papua New Guinea won bronze with 282kg. This silver medal marks a return to the Commonwealth Games podium for Muthupandi, eight years after his debut in Gold Coast in 2018, where he finished sixth.
In boxing, Jadumani Singh Mandengbam advanced to the quarter-finals of the men’s 55kg category by defeating Sumama Rehman of Pakistan with a unanimous 5-0 decision. After a close first round, Singh gained control, scoring a knockdown in the second round. He is set to face Ellis Trowbridge of England in the quarter-finals. Preeti Pawar also moved to the quarter-finals in the women’s 54kg category, winning by referee stops contest (RSC) against Deborah Mtenje of Malawi.
Swimming and Other Events
India’s men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team, consisting of Srihari Nataraj, Aryan Nehra, Aneesh Gowda, and Dhakshan Shashikumar, qualified for the final by finishing third in Heat 2. The team recorded a time of 7:39.48, placing behind Australia and England. They advanced as the sixth-fastest team overall from the heats. The same quartet later competed in the medal race, finishing sixth in the Commonwealth Games final.
In lawn bowls, India faced challenges. Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh lost to Namibia and then England in women’s pairs sectional play, ending their campaign. Putul Sonowal also lost his men’s singles sectional play match against Shaun James Parnis of Malta. Artistic gymnast Tapan Mohanty finished 15th in the men’s all-around final. India’s women’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball team lost 21-4 to Scotland in Pool B.
India concluded Day 4 with a total of four medals: one gold, two silvers, and one bronze, with the boxing contingent continuing to build momentum towards the quarter-final stage.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
