India opens Commonwealth Games campaign with four medals, ranks eighth in Glasgow

Glasgow: India has made a promising start at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, winning four medals to move into eighth place in the standings as competition gathers pace in Glasgow. The Games, which run from 23 July to 2 August, have seen India field a 122-member contingent across 13 disciplines.

Weightlifting has once again emerged as India’s biggest medal contributor in the opening days of the competition. Mirabai Chanu delivered the country’s first gold medal after clinching the women’s 48 kg title, continuing her impressive record on the Commonwealth stage.

India’s weightlifters added two more podium finishes through Rishikanta Singh, who secured silver in the men’s 60 kg event, and Muthupandi Raja, who finished second in the men’s 65 kg category.

The country’s fourth medal came in para-powerlifting, where Jhandu Kumar claimed bronze in the men’s heavyweight competition, ensuring India had representation on the podium in both able-bodied and para events.

Indian athletes are competing across four main venues in Glasgow. Athletics and para-athletics are being held at Scotstoun Stadium, where Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is among the country’s biggest medal hopes. The Tollcross International Swimming Centre is hosting swimming and para-swimming events, while the Glasgow National Tennis Centre is staging weightlifting, para-powerlifting and judo competitions. Emirates Arena is the venue for boxing, gymnastics, track cycling and 3×3 wheelchair basketball.

With several marquee events, including athletics and boxing, yet to begin, India is expected to add significantly to its medal tally over the coming days. The strong start by the weightlifting contingent has provided early momentum as the country looks to climb higher in the Commonwealth Games medal table before the competition concludes on 2 August.