India experienced its most successful day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, securing one gold and two silver medals, bringing the total medal count to four. Boxers continued their strong performance, and the men’s swimming relay team reached another final.
Mirabai Chanu, an Olympic silver medallist, led India’s achievements on Day 4 by winning her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal. Rishikanta Singh and Raja Muthupandi also contributed by earning silver medals in weightlifting. In other events, Jadumani Singh advanced to the boxing quarter-finals, Preeti Pawar secured a victory, and the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team competed in the final.
Chanu’s Record-Breaking Performance
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu reaffirmed her standing as a prominent Indian weightlifter by winning the gold medal in the women’s 48kg category. The athlete overcame an initial unsuccessful attempt to deliver a dominant performance, achieving a combined lift of 190kg. She established a new Commonwealth Games record in the snatch with 85kg and lifted 105kg in the clean and jerk, securing her title.
This victory marks her third consecutive gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, following her wins in Gold Coast in 2018 and Birmingham in 2022. This brings her overall Commonwealth Games medal tally to four.
Her dominance was evident as the silver medallist, Ruth Asuquo Nyong of Nigeria, finished with a total lift of 168kg, 22kg behind Chanu’s winning effort. Chanu’s competition effectively began after other competitors had finished their attempts.
Additional Weightlifting Success
Rishikanta Singh Chanambam delivered a notable performance, earning a silver medal in the men’s 60kg event. The lifter successfully cleared 116kg, 119kg, and 121kg in the snatch, with his best effort matching the Commonwealth Games record. He then lifted 143kg in the clean and jerk, but missed attempts at 148kg and 151kg, concluding with a total lift of 264kg.
Muhammad Anik bin Kasdan of Malaysia secured the gold medal with a Games-record total of 273kg, while Joshua Amunga Buoya of Kenya took bronze with a lift of 260kg.
Raja Muthupandi contributed to India’s weightlifting medal count by winning a silver medal in the men’s 65kg category. He recorded 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 Commonwealth Games record total of 299kg, and Morea Baru from Papua New Guinea earned bronze with 282kg. This silver medal marks a return to the Commonwealth Games podium for Muthupandi, eight years after his sixth-place finish in Gold Coast in 2018, following an injury-affected period that led to him missing Birmingham 2022.
Boxing and Swimming Updates
India’s boxing contingent had another productive day. Jadumani Singh Mandengbam defeated Sumama Rehman of Pakistan with a unanimous 5-0 decision in the men’s 55kg Round of 16, advancing to the quarter-finals. After a close first round, Singh gained control, scoring a knockdown in the second round and securing victory on all five judges’ scorecards. He is scheduled to face Ellis Trowbridge of England in the quarter-finals.
In the women’s 54kg Round of 16, Preeti Pawar delivered a strong performance, defeating Deborah Mtenje of Malawi by referee stops contest (RSC), moving comfortably into the quarter-finals.
However, India also faced a setback in boxing as Aditya Pratap Yadav lost narrowly to Nuhu Batte of Uganda in the men’s 65kg Round of 16 by a 3-2 split decision.
The Indian men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team, comprising 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 combined heats. Later, the same quartet competed in the medal race, finishing sixth in the Commonwealth Games final.
India experienced mixed results in lawn bowls and gymnastics. Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh lost to Namibia in a women’s pairs sectional play tiebreak and then to England, concluding their campaign in the event. In men’s singles, Putul Sonowal lost his sectional play match against Shaun James Parnis of Malta. 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.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
