India aims to maintain its positive momentum from an eventful Day 2 as it approaches Day 3 of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Saturday, July 25. The country secured its first medal on Friday when para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar won bronze in the men’s heavyweight event. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Kumar, who has journeyed from rural Bihar to the Commonwealth podium.

In addition to Kumar’s success, boxer Jadumani Singh advanced to the pre-quarterfinals with a decisive victory against Scotland’s Aaron Cullen. The performance of the lawn bowls contingent was notable, with Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki claiming their second consecutive win in the women’s pairs. Putul Sonowal also continued to impress by remaining unbeaten in the men’s singles, enhancing India’s prospects for further advancement.

Challenges and Setbacks for Indian Athletes

Despite these positive results, the Indian contingent faced several challenges throughout the day. The swimming team struggled to contend for medals, although Srihari Nataraj reached the semifinals in the men’s 50m backstroke. Additionally, other para powerlifters, including Ashok Malik, Jaspreet Kaur, and Suman Devi, just missed out on podium finishes.

The campaign has also been overshadowed by the suspension of judoka Tulika Maan due to doping allegations, which occurred prior to the Games and affected expectations. The absence of prominent athletes has tempered enthusiasm, but the contingent remains hopeful about potential future successes.

As India gears up for Day 3, the focus will be on building confidence in boxing and lawn bowls, with artistic gymnastics providing another opportunity to secure medals. The upcoming events are highly anticipated, and there is a sense of optimism among athletes and fans alike.

India’s Schedule for Day 3 Events

The schedule for Day 3 features several key matchups and events, contributing to India’s hopes for further medal accumulation. Competitive events will begin with the women’s pairs in lawn bowls, where Tirkey and Pinki are set to face Tonga’s Paris Baker and Milika Nathan at 3:50 pm IST.

Boxing will see Sachin compete against Canada’s Keoma Al-Ahmadieh in the men’s 60kg Round of 32 at 4:00 pm IST. Swimming heats for Dhakshan Shashikumar and Aryan Nehra in the men’s 400m freestyle will take place shortly thereafter, with finals scheduled later in the evening if they achieve qualifying times.

Additional events include 3×3 wheelchair basketball, where the women’s team will go up against Wales at 4:35 pm IST. Putul Sonowal will also compete in the men’s singles lawn bowls sectional play against Malaysia’s Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple at 7:30 pm IST. Finally, artistic gymnastics will see athletes Pranati Nayak, Nishka Agarwal, Protistha Samanta, and Eshitaa Rewale participate in the women’s team final and individual qualification at 8:15 pm IST.

The men’s 400m freestyle final, featuring either Dhakshan Shashikumar or Aryan Nehra, is scheduled for 11:37 pm IST, contingent on their earlier performances. As Day 3 unfolds, India remains hopeful for a fruitful continuation of its campaign at the Commonwealth Games.

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