India secures four medals at Commonwealth Games, Mirabai Chanu wins third gold
India had its most successful day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, securing a total of four medals. The day’s achievements included one gold and two silver medals, with boxers maintaining their strong performance and the men’s swimming relay team reaching another final.
Mirabai Chanu was a prominent figure, earning her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal. Additionally, Rishikanta Singh and Raja Muthupandi each contributed silver medals in weightlifting.
Weightlifting triumphs
Mirabai Chanu, an Olympic silver medallist, showcased her dominance by winning the women’s 48kg gold medal. Despite an initial unsuccessful attempt, she achieved a combined lift of 190kg. She established a new Commonwealth Games record of 85kg in the snatch and lifted 105kg in the clean and jerk to secure the title.
This victory marked her third consecutive gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, following her wins in 2018 and 2022. Her overall medal count at the Commonwealth Games now stands at four. Chanu mentioned not eating and drinking for days to maintain weight, breaking records in snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift.
Rishikanta Singh Chanambam delivered a notable performance, earning a silver medal in the men’s 60kg event. The lifter from Manipur successfully lifted 116kg, 119kg, and 121kg in the snatch, with his best effort matching the Commonwealth Games record. He managed 143kg in the clean and jerk, finishing with a total lift of 264kg. Malaysia’s Muhammad Anik bin Kasdan took gold with a Games-record total of 273kg, while Kenya’s Joshua Amunga Buoya secured bronze with 260kg.
Raja Muthupandi added another silver medal for India in the men’s 65kg category, contributing to the country’s three weightlifting medals for the day. The lifter from Tamil Nadu recorded 126kg in the snatch and 160kg in the clean and jerk, achieving a combined total of 286kg. Malaysia’s Muhamad Aznil Bin Bidin won gold with a Commonwealth Games record total of 299kg, and Papua New Guinea’s Morea Baru claimed bronze with 282kg.
This silver medal marked a return to the Commonwealth Games podium for Muthupandi, eight years after his debut in 2018, following an injury-affected period that led to him missing the 2022 Games.
Boxing and swimming advancements
India’s boxers continued their successful campaign. Jadumani Singh Mandengbam advanced to the quarter-finals in the men’s 55kg Round of 16 by defeating Pakistan’s Sumama Rehman with a unanimous 5-0 decision. He is scheduled to face England’s Ellis Trowbridge in the next round.
In the women’s 54kg Round of 16, Preeti Pawar secured her place in the quarter-finals with a dominant victory over Malawi’s Deborah Mtenje, winning by referee stops contest (RSC). However, Aditya Pratap Yadav experienced a setback, losing to Uganda’s Nuhu Batte by a 3-2 split decision in the men’s 65kg Round of 16.
The Indian men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team, comprising Srihari Nataraj, Aryan Nehra, Aneesh Gowda, and Dhakshan Shashikumar, qualified for the final after finishing third in their heat. 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 Commonwealth Games final, finishing in sixth place.
Other sports
In lawn bowls, India faced challenges. Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh lost to Namibia and then to England in the women’s pairs sectional play, ending their participation. Putul Sonowal also lost his sectional play match in men’s singles against Malta’s Shaun James Parnis.
Artistic gymnast Tapan Mohanty finished 15th in the men’s all-around final. Additionally, India’s women’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball team was defeated by Scotland with a score of 21-4 in Pool B.
India concluded Day 4 of the Commonwealth Games with a total of four medals: one gold, two silvers, and one bronze, with the boxing contingent building momentum towards the quarter-final stage.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
