Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 1 Round-Up: India Open With Winning Bowls Starts as First Medals Beckon in Para Powerlifting
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are officially under way. After a colourful Opening Ceremony on Thursday, 23 July, the first day of the reimagined Games belonged to the bowls greens — and India made a quiet but encouraging start, with all three of its athletes in action coming away with wins. No medals were decided on the opening day, but India’s first real shots at the podium arrive on Day 2 in Para Powerlifting.
India’s Day 1: a perfect start on the greens
Three Indians were in action on the opening day, all in bowls, and all three delivered. In the women’s pairs, Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh gave India a winning start, edging their Malta opponents in a tie-break. Not to be outdone, Putul Sonowal followed suit in the men’s singles, taking down veteran Ryan Bester in similarly nervy, tie-break fashion.
Both results came in the sectional group stage, so there was no medal on the line — but winning starts matter in a round-robin format, and India will be delighted to have banked early points in a discipline where progress is all about momentum.
History: the first gold comes in Para Powerlifting
Glasgow 2026 makes history on Day 2 (Friday, 24 July): for the first time in Commonwealth Games history, a Para sport will deliver the opening gold medals. Para Powerlifting takes centre stage at the SEC Armadillo, with 47 athletes from 15 delegations competing across four medal events — the men’s and women’s lightweight and heavyweight categories, decided on a coefficient formula based on bodyweight and best lift.
Crucially for Indian fans, seven Indian lifters are entered in the Para Powerlifting finals, giving India its first genuine shot at the podium at these Games. It is a fitting way for a Games that has fully embraced para-sport to get its medal tally rolling.
Also to watch on Day 2
- Para Powerlifting finals — India’s seven lifters chase the Games’ first medals.
- Swimming — Srihari Nataraj begins India’s campaign in the pool.
- Artistic gymnastics and para swimming — further early medal opportunities open up.
The bigger picture
This is a leaner Commonwealth Games — just 10 sports across four Glasgow venues — but India travel with a 126-member contingent and real ambitions, as we set out in our India Commonwealth Games 2026 preview. The marquee athletics action, featuring Neeraj Chopra, does not begin until 27 July, and the field is stacked with stars — including home hero Josh Kerr — as we covered in our look at the star-studded Glasgow 2026 field.
Keep track of the medal picture across every sport on our Sports Rankings & Standings hub. India’s medal count is about to get moving.
Prime Hunt Daily brings you a daily round-up of India’s Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign, every day of the Games.