India’s strong performance in weightlifting
India had a notable day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, securing three medals in weightlifting. The country’s medal count reached four overall, comprising one gold and two silver medals. Boxers also continued their strong showing, and the men’s swimming relay team participated in a final event.
Mirabai Chanu led India‘s performance on Day 4, earning her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal. Additionally, Rishikanta Singh and Raja Muthupandi each contributed silver medals in weightlifting events.
Chanu’s historic gold and new records
Mirabai Chanu reaffirmed her standing as a prominent 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, comfortably securing the title. This victory marked her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal, following her triumphs in Gold Coast in 2018 and Birmingham in 2022. Her overall Commonwealth Games medal tally now stands at four.
Chanu‘s dominance was evident as Ruth Asuquo Nyong of Nigeria finished with a total lift of 168kg, significantly behind Chanu‘s winning effort. Despite a nervous start where she failed her opening snatch attempt at 82kg, Chanu quickly recovered to lift the weight and subsequently broke the Commonwealth record. She also faced a brief 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 the clean and jerk and total lift categories.
Silver medals for Rishikanta Singh and Raja Muthupandi
Rishikanta Singh Chanambam delivered a strong performance to earn 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 then managed 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 another silver medal for India in the men’s 65kg category, ensuring 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 Games-record total lift 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 Gold Coast in 2018.
Boxing and swimming advancements
India‘s boxing contingent also had a productive day. Jadumani Singh Mandengbam advanced to the quarter-finals in the men’s 55kg category by defeating Pakistan‘s Sumama Rehman with a unanimous 5-0 decision. Preeti Pawar also moved to the quarter-finals in the women’s 54kg category after a dominant win against Malawi‘s Deborah Mtenje by referee stops contest (RSC).
However, Aditya Pratap Yadav experienced a setback, narrowly losing to Uganda‘s Nuhu Batte by a 3-2 split decision in the men’s 65kg Round of 16. In swimming, India‘s men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team, consisting of Srihari Nataraj, Aryan Nehra, Aneesh Gowda, and Dhakshan Shashikumar, qualified for the final after finishing third in Heat 2. The quartet later competed in the Commonwealth Games final, finishing sixth.
Mixed results in other sports
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 subsequently to England, ending their campaign. In 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 suffered a defeat, losing 21-4 to Scotland in Pool B.
Day 4 concluded with India having secured four medals overall at the Games: one gold and two silvers, with the boxing team building momentum for the quarter-final stage.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
