Glasgow: Mirabai Chanu secures third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold
India experienced its most successful day to date at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, securing one gold and two silver medals. This brought the nation’s total medal count to four, with boxers continuing their strong performances and the men’s swimming relay team reaching another final.
Mirabai Chanu, an Olympic silver medallist, was a highlight of India’s Day 4 achievements, earning her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal. Additionally, Rishikanta Singh and Raja Muthupandi each contributed silver medals in weightlifting. In boxing, Jadumani Singh advanced to the quarter-finals, and Preeti Pawar also moved forward with a stoppage victory. The men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team qualified for and competed in the final event.
Chanu’s Golden Hat-Trick in Weightlifting
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu reinforced her standing as a prominent Indian weightlifter by winning the gold medal in the women’s 48kg category. The 31-year-old, who previously won an Olympic silver medal in Tokyo, overcame an initial unsuccessful attempt to deliver a dominant performance. She finished with a combined lift of 190kg, setting a new Commonwealth Games record of 85kg in the snatch. She then 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. Her overall medal count at the Commonwealth Games now stands at four. Her dominance was evident as the silver medallist, Ruth Asuquo Nyong of Nigeria, finished 22kg behind with a total lift of 168kg.
Despite a nervous start with a failed opening snatch attempt at 82kg, Chanu quickly regained her composure. She also faced a moment of uncertainty in the clean and jerk but successfully lifted 105kg on her second attempt, securing the gold and setting new Commonwealth Games records in both the clean and jerk and total lift categories. With the gold secured, she opted not to take her third attempt, reportedly with the Asian Games in mind.
Additional Weightlifting Success and Boxing Progress
Rishikanta Singh Chanambam delivered a notable performance, earning a silver medal in the men’s 60kg event. The 28-year-old lifter from Manipur successfully lifted 116kg, 119kg, and 121kg in the snatch, with his best effort matching the Commonwealth Games record. He then managed 143kg in the clean and jerk, concluding with a total lift of 264kg. Muhammad Anik bin Kasdan of Malaysia won gold with a Games-record total of 273kg, while Joshua Amunga Buoya of Kenya took bronze with 260kg.
Raja Muthupandi contributed another silver medal for India in weightlifting, competing in the men’s 65kg category. The lifter from Tamil Nadu achieved 126kg in the snatch and 160kg in the clean and jerk, resulting in a combined total of 286kg. Muhamad Aznil Bin Bidin of Malaysia secured gold with a new Commonwealth Games record total of 299kg, and Morea Baru of Papua New Guinea earned bronze with 282kg. This silver medal marks a return to the podium for Muthupandi, eight years after his debut in Gold Coast in 2018, following an injury-affected period that led to him missing Birmingham 2022.
In boxing, Jadumani Singh Mandengbam secured his place in 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 advanced to the quarter-finals in the women’s 54kg category, defeating Deborah Mtenje of Malawi by referee stops contest (RSC). However, Aditya Pratap Yadav experienced a setback, losing to Nuhu Batte of Uganda in the men’s 65kg Round of 16 by a 3-2 split decision.
Swimming Relay and Other Events
India’s men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team, comprising Srihari Nataraj, Aryan Nehra, Aneesh Gowda, and Dhakshan Shashikumar, successfully qualified for the final. They finished third in Heat 2 with a time of 7:39.48, behind Australia and England, and were the sixth-fastest team overall from the combined heats. The same quartet later competed in the medal race, finishing sixth in the Commonwealth Games final.
In lawn bowls, India faced a challenging day. Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh lost to Namibia in a women’s pairs sectional play tiebreak and then to England, ending their campaign. 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. India’s women’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball team also suffered a defeat, losing 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 building momentum for the quarter-final stage.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
