India started the Commonwealth Games 2026 with a win in lawn bowls. Pinky-Rupa defeated Malta in women’s pairs, while Putul Sonowal surprised everyone by defeating the current world champion in men’s singles. Both won in tie-break.
glasgow [स्कॉटलैंड]July 24 (ANI): India’s Pinky Singh and Rupa Rani Tirkey began their Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign with a hard-fought win in the women’s pairs event, while Putul Sonowal stunned defending world champion Ryan Bester of Canada in the men’s singles at the Scottish Event Campus on Thursday, according to Olympics.com.
Pinky-Rupa’s exciting victory
Pinky and Rupa, members of India’s gold medal-winning Women’s Force team at Birmingham 2022, defeated Malta’s Connie Rickson and Rebecca Rickson in their Section B encounter. The Indian pair dominated the first set 7-1, but Malta made a comeback in the second set to force the match into a tie-break. Pinky’s last ball proved decisive and India secured victory.
Big upset of Putul Sonowal
Meanwhile, 43-year-old Putul Sonowal recorded an impressive win over defending world champion Bester in his Commonwealth Games debut. The reigning Asian champion won in a tie-break after both players had split the opening two sets. Sonowal won the first set 5-4, while Bester won the second set 7-3. This was his first match in Section D.
Further matches and competition format
There are six players in this section, in which the winners of all four sections will reach the semi-finals. Putul will next face Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands in his second men’s singles Section D match, while Pinky and Rupa will next face South Africa in the women’s pairs match. Both matches are scheduled to be held on Friday. At Glasgow 2026, the tournament begins with sectional group play, with players and teams competing in a round-robin format for a place in the knockout stage. This competition is being held indoors for the first time at the Commonwealth Games, while the basic objective remains the same – to roll the bowls as close as possible to the small target ball ‘jack’. (ANI)
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