Our Bureau
Glasgow
Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu produced another landmark performance by clinching her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal, giving India its first gold of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and spearheading the country’s medal charge. The triumph reaffirmed Chanu’s status as one of India’s most successful athletes while lifting the nation’s tally to four medals, one gold, two silvers and one bronze, after the opening four days of competition.
Competing in the women’s 48kg weightlifting event, Chanu dominated the field to complete a rare hat-trick of Commonwealth titles, having previously won gold in Gold Coast (2018) and Birmingham (2022). Her latest success also marked India’s most productive day of the Games, with weightlifting once again emerging as the country’s strongest discipline.
India’s medal haul was further strengthened by Rishikanta Singh, who secured silver in the men’s 60kg weightlifting category after equalling the Commonwealth Games record. Raja Muthupandi added another silver to the tally, underlining the depth of India’s weightlifting contingent. Earlier, para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar had opened India’s account with a bronze medal in the heavyweight event, overcoming a difficult upbringing marked by financial struggles.
Beyond the podium finishes, India’s campaign has gathered momentum across disciplines. Boxers continued advancing through preliminary rounds, while the men’s swimming relay team qualified for a Commonwealth Games final. Athletes Tejas Shirse and Sarvesh Kushare are among those expected to headline India’s athletics challenge as medal events intensify in the coming days.
With competition set to continue until August 2, India will look to build on its encouraging start and improve its standing on the medal table. Weightlifting has once again laid the foundation, but hopes now rest on boxing, athletics, swimming and other disciplines to sustain the country’s push for a strong overall finish.