Glasgow, July 23 (IANS) India will look to pick medals through a strong para powerlifting contingent while swimmers, gymnasts and boxers also begin their campaigns on a packed Day 2 schedule of the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Friday.
India’s biggest medal hopes on the day rest in para powerlifting, where multiple lifters will compete across men’s and women’s finals at the SEC Armadillo.
Ashok and Parmjeet Kumar will feature in the men’s lightweight final, while Jaspreet Kaur and Suman Devi will contest the women’s lightweight final. Kasthuri Rajamani will compete in the women’s heavyweight final later in the evening, before Sudhir and Jhandu Kumar take the platform in the men’s heavyweight final after midnight (IST).
The day’s action begins with the Indian men’s artistic gymnastics team of Tapan Mohanty, Swathish KP, Tapeshwarnath Das and Yogeshwar Singh competing in the men’s team final and individual qualification at The Arena. The quartet will also return later in the day for the team final.
In the pool, India’s para swimmers Ravi Veera Venkata Bhavani Karthik Budigna and Imam Ali will compete in the men’s S13 100m freestyle heats at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre. Both swimmers have a chance to return for the final later in the night, subject to qualification from the heats.
Leading Indian swimmer Srihari Natraj will begin his campaign in the men’s 50m backstroke, competing in Heat 4 against rivals from Ghana, Canada, Scotland, England, the Isle of Man and Seychelles. A place in the semifinals later in the day will depend on his performance in the heats.
India will also be in action in lawn bowls, with Pinki and Rupa Rani Tirkey taking on South Africa’s T. Muvhango and Janse van Rensburg in the women’s pairs sectional play. Later in the evening, Putul Sonowal will represent the country in the men’s singles sectional play against Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands.
The boxing ring will see Jadumani Singh open India’s challenge in the men’s 55kg category, where he is scheduled to face Scotland’s Aaron Cullen in the Round of 32 at the SEC Centre.
With medal opportunities spread across para powerlifting and qualification rounds in swimming and gymnastics, Friday promises to be another busy day for the Indian contingent as it looks to build momentum at the Commonwealth Games.
India’s Day 2 Schedule – Commonwealth Games 2026
Artistic Gymnastics
2:30 p.m. – Men’s Team Final and Individual Qualification – Tapan Mohanty, Swathish KP, Tapeshwarnath Das, Yogeshwar Singh.
Swimming and para swimming
3:40 p.m. – Men’s S13 100m Freestyle Heat 1 – Ravi Veera Venkata Bhavani Karthik Budigna.
3:40 p.m. – Men’s S13 100m Freestyle Heat 1 – Imam Ali.
3:56 p.m. – Men’s 50m Backstroke Heat 4 – Srihari Natraj.
Para Powerlifting
5:40 p.m. – Men’s Lightweight Final – Ashok, Parmjeet Kumar.
7:24 p.m. – Women’s Lightweight Final – Jaspreet Kaur, Suman Devi.
Lawn bowls
7:30 p.m. – Women’s Pairs Sectional Play – Pinki & Rupa Rani Tirkey vs Thabelo Muvhango & Jacqui Janse van Rensburg (South Africa).
10:20 p.m. – Men’s Singles Sectional Play – Putul Sonowal vs Cecil Alexander (Falkland Islands).
Para Powerlifting
10:40 p.m. – Women’s Heavyweight Final – Kasthuri Rajamani.
Boxing
11:00 p.m. – Men’s 55kg Round of 32 – Jadumani Singh vs Aaron Cullen (Scotland).
Swimming and Para Swimming
Midnight – Men’s S13 100m Freestyle Final – Ravi Veera Venkata Bhavani Karthik Budigna (subject to qualification).
Midnight – Men’s S13 100m Freestyle Final – Imam Ali (subject to qualification).
12:29 a.m. – Men’s 50m Backstroke Semi-final – Srihari Natraj (subject to qualification).
12:29 a.m. – Men’s Heavyweight Final – Sudhir, Jhandu Kumar.
–IANS
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