Commonwealth Games 2026: All you need to know about Nayanmoni Saikia

Nayanmoni Saikia is one of India's most accomplished lawn bowls star, having represented the country in three Commonwealth Games so far.

She played a key role in India's first-ever Commonwealth Games medal in the sport, winning the gold in women's fours at the 2022 Games in Birmigham.

Early days

Born on September 21, 1988, in Tengabari village in Assam's Golaghat district, Nayanmoni Saikia comes from a farming family.

She studied at Golaghat Commerce College and is married with a daughter. Before taking up lawn bowls, Nayanmoni was a dedicated weightlifter throughout her school and college years. However, a leg injury forced her to give up the sport.

Looking for a sport that was less physically demanding, she switched to lawn bowls in 2008 after being attracted by its slower pace. The decision proved to be a turning point in her sporting career.

Alongside her sporting career, she joined the Assam Forest Department as a Forest Guard in 2011.

Following her Commonwealth games gold medal in 2022, she was promoted to the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Assam Police.

Rise through the ranks

Nayanmoni quickly became one of India's leading lawn bowl athletes.

She won two gold medals at the 2011 South Asian games in Dhaka in the women's pairs and women's fours events before making her Commonwealth games debut at Glasgow 2014, where she competed in the women's singles and triples events.

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games she was a part of the team consisting of Lovely Choubey, Rupa Rani Tirkey, Farzana Khan, losing in the quarter-finals.

Her biggest career achievement came at the 2022 Commonwealth games in Birmingham, where she was part of the Indian women's fours team alongside Lovely Choubey, Pinki and Rupa Rani Tirkey that created history by winning India's first-ever Commonwealth games gold medal in lawn bowls.

Playing as the third, Nayanmoni produced several crucial performances under pressure, including India's dramatic quarterfinal victory over Norfolk Island before helping the team defeat South Africa in the final.

Her historic achievement earned her the Arjuna Award in 2022.

Achievements

Nayanmoni has continued to perform consistently at both the international and domestic level.

She won two gold medals at the 2011 South Asian games before winning gold in the women's triples at the 2017 Asian Lawn Bowls Championships.

In 2023, she added another gold medal in the team event at the Asian Lawn Bowls Championships.

At the 2025 Asian Lawn Bowls Championships, she won silver in the women's pairs and bronze in the women's fours. She has also won multiple National games and National Championship medals.

At the 38th National games in 2025, she partnered Bongita Hazarika to win the women's pairs gold medal.

Apart from the Arjuna Award, she has also received the Assam Saurav award.

With years of international experience and several medals to her name, Nayanmoni heads to 2026 Glasgow aiming to get India another medal in lawn bowls at the Commonwealth Games.