India experienced a successful day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, securing one gold and two silver medals. This brought the nation’s total medal count to four. Indian boxers also continued their strong performance, while the men’s swimming relay team advanced to another Commonwealth final.
Mirabai Chanu was a prominent figure in 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 events.
Weightlifting triumphs
Mirabai Chanu reaffirmed her standing as a top 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 of 85kg in the snatch and lifted 105kg in the clean and jerk to secure the title.
This victory marked her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal, following her successes in Gold Coast in 2018 and Birmingham in 2022. Her overall Commonwealth Games medal tally now stands at four.
Rishikanta Singh Chanambam delivered a notable performance, earning a silver medal in the men’s 60kg event. The lifter successfully completed lifts of 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, concluding with a total lift of 264kg. Malaysia’s Muhammad Anik bin Kasdan secured gold with a Games-record total of 273kg, while Kenya’s Joshua Amunga Buoya took bronze with 260kg.
Raja Muthupandi contributed to India’s weightlifting medal haul by claiming silver in the men’s 65kg category. The lifter 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 earned bronze with 282kg.
This silver medal marked a comeback for Muthupandi, who returned to the Commonwealth Games podium eight years after his sixth-place finish at Gold Coast in 2018. His journey included an injury-affected period that led to him missing Birmingham 2022.
Boxing and swimming progress
Indian boxers had another productive day. Jadumani Singh Mandengbam defeated Pakistan’s Sumama Rehman with a unanimous 5-0 decision in the men’s 55kg Round of 16, advancing to the quarter-finals. After a close first round, the boxer gained control, scoring a knockdown in the second round and securing victory on all five judges’ scorecards. He is scheduled to compete against England’s Ellis Trowbridge for a spot in the medal rounds.
In the women’s 54kg Round of 16, Preeti Pawar delivered a strong performance, defeating Malawi’s Deborah Mtenje by referee stops contest (RSC), which allowed her to comfortably move into the quarter-finals. However, Aditya Pratap Yadav narrowly lost to Uganda’s Nuhu Batte in the men’s 65kg Round of 16 by a 3-2 split decision.
India’s men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team, comprising Srihari Nataraj, Aryan Nehra, Aneesh Gowda, and Dhakshan Shashikumar, qualified for the final after finishing third in Heat 2. The team recorded a time of 7:39.48, placing behind Australia and England and ahead of Jersey. They advanced as the sixth-fastest team overall from the combined heats. Later in the evening, the same quartet competed in the medal race, finishing sixth in the Commonwealth Games final.
Mixed results in other events
India faced challenges in lawn bowls. Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh lost 3-0 to Namibia in a women’s pairs sectional play tiebreak, and subsequently suffered another defeat against England, which concluded their participation in the event. In the men’s singles, Putul Sonowal lost his sectional play match against Malta’s Shaun James Parnis.
Artistic gymnast Tapan Mohanty finished 15th in the men’s all-around final. India’s women’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball team also experienced a defeat, losing 21-4 to Scotland in Pool B.
India’s Day 4 results included gold for Mirabai Chanu in women’s 48kg weightlifting, silver for Rishikanta Singh in men’s 60kg weightlifting, and silver for Raja Muthupandi in men’s 65kg weightlifting. In boxing, Jadumani Singh won his men’s 55kg Round of 16 bout 5-0, and Preeti Pawar won her women’s 54kg Round of 16 bout by RSC.
The men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team finished sixth in the final. India’s women’s pairs lawn bowls team lost to Namibia and England, while Putul Sonowal lost his men’s singles lawn bowls match. Tapan Mohanty finished 15th in artistic gymnastics, and the women’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball team lost 21-4 to Scotland.
India concluded Day 4 with four medals overall at the Games.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
