India Shines at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games with Historic Wins
On July 28 at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, India made a remarkable impression, highlighted by Gulveer Singh’s historic silver medal in the men’s 10,000m and Harjinder Kaur’s strong performance in weightlifting. Along with these podium finishes, Indian boxers secured at least three guaranteed medals by advancing to the semi-finals.
Day 5 Highlights of CWG
The late-night events in Scotland brought India’s total medal count to 12, which includes two gold, seven silver, and three bronze medals, securing a spot in the top 10 of the medal standings.
Gulveer Singh’s Breakthrough Moment
Gulveer Singh, a 26-year-old athlete, delivered an outstanding performance in the men’s 10,000m final, held in challenging rainy conditions. He carefully positioned himself among the leaders for most of the race. In the final stretch, as competitors surged ahead, Gulveer sprinted to finish in 27:49.78, earning a silver medal. David Mullarkey from the Isle of Man took bronze.
His achievement marked a historic first for India, making him the first Indian man to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the 10,000m event, in a competition where no African distance runner reached the podium for the first time since 1986.
Harjinder Kaur’s Weightlifting Success
In weightlifting, Harjinder Kaur shone brightly at the SEC Centre, improving her record from the Birmingham 2022 Games from bronze to silver in the women’s 69kg category. She managed a total lift of 221kg, performing a crucial 120kg clean and jerk under pressure. This was India’s seventh medal in weightlifting at the Glasgow Games. The gold went to Canada’s Charlotte Simoneau, who set a Games record, while Australia’s Olivia Hayman secured the bronze.
Boxing Achievements: Three Medals Secured
In boxing, India’s young athletes excelled, ensuring at least three medals with their victories in the quarter-finals.
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Jadumani Singh Mandengbam showcased impressive skills in the men’s 55kg category, dominating his fight against Zambia’s Mwengo Mwale to earn a unanimous decision win.
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Priya Ghanghas faced a tough local challenger, Scotland’s Niamh Mitchell, but delivered a strong performance and emerged victorious with a clear decision.
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Preeti Pawar, ranked world number three, continued her winning streak by outboxing her opponent in the women’s 54kg category.
Setbacks in Other Boxing Matches
Despite the successes, there were disappointments. In the women’s 65kg quarter-finals, Parveen Hooda lost to England’s top seed Sacha Hickey. Additionally, Kapil Pokhariya was eliminated from the men’s 90kg category after a tough loss to Scotland’s Robert McNulty.
Other Notable Results
Throughout the day, Indian athletes saw mixed outcomes across various sports:
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High Jump: Pooja Singh finished eighth in the women’s high jump after clearing 1.77m, but was unable to clear 1.82m when the competition resumed after a lengthy delay.
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Sprinting: Vishal TK advanced to the semi-finals in the men’s 400m heats, while teammate Rajesh Ramesh did not qualify.
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Swimming: Srihari Nataraj exited in the semi-finals of the men’s 100m backstroke, and Olympian Sajan Prakash did not advance in the men’s 50m butterfly heats.
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Lawn Bowls: Nayanmoni Saikia faced defeat in her match against Wales’ Amy Williams, losing in straight sets.
India’s athletes are continuing to make their mark at the Commonwealth Games as they push through the competition, showcasing resilience and talent.
