Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 1 Highlights: Rupa-Pinki, Putul make winning start in Bowls
Highlights from Day 1 of as India's campaign at 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

2026 Commonwealth Games Day 1 Highlights: The 2026 Commonwealth Games got underway in Glasgow on Thursday with a total of three Indians in action on the opening day.
Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh gave India a winning start, beating the women's pairs team from Malta in Bowls in a tie-break.
Putul Sonowal followed suit in men's singles bowls, taking down veteran Ryan Bester in a similar fashion.
Highlights:
Live Updates
- 23 July 2026 6:42 PM IST
Bowls, Men's Singles: Putul Sonowal wins first set!
Putul Sonowal holds his own against the experienced Ryan Bester. He was under pressure but manages to pocket a point in the seventh and final end to close out the first set 5-4.
Sonowal, on his Commonwealth Games debut, is off to a fantastic start!
- 23 July 2026 6:39 PM IST
Bowls, Men's Singles: Bester equalises once again
Putul Sonowal was on course for another two pointer end, but Ryan Bester had other ideas. A brilliant release with his last attempt and he not only pushes Sonowal's balls away but hits the jack and forces it closer to his earlier released balls. Exceptional.
The Canadian equalises at 4-4.
- 23 July 2026 6:35 PM IST
Bowls, Men's Singles: Brilliant from Putul Sonowal

Putul Sonowal answers Bester's in style. Wins two points himself in the fifth end to retake the lead. He is up 4-2.
Those two blue balls close to the yellow jack is what handed the Indian two points.
- 23 July 2026 6:31 PM IST
Bowls, Men's Singles: Bester takes the lead
Ryan Bester shows why he is one of the best in the world. Wins two points off the fourth end and now leads 3-2.
Putul Sonowal is under pressure.

- 23 July 2026 6:28 PM IST
Bowls, Men's Singles: Bester pulls one back
Putul Sonowal looked in control in the third set as well, but a brilliant delivery from Ryan Bester with his final attempt puts him off. The Canadian gets a point to reduce the deficit to 1-2.
- 23 July 2026 6:25 PM IST
Bowls, Men's Singles: Putul Sonowal extends his lead
Putul Sonowal is steadily moving forward. Wins a point from the second end and he is up 2-0 now in the first set.
Sonowal is also the reigning Asian champion, having won the men's singles title at the 2026 Asian Lawn Bowls Championships earlier this year.
- 23 July 2026 6:22 PM IST
Bowls, Men's Singles: Sonowal gets the first end!
Sonowal gets a point from the first end. The Guwahati lad is off to a good start on Glasgow. But still very early days in this contest.
- 23 July 2026 6:19 PM IST
Bowls, Men's Singles: The action has started
The jack is set and the players are ready. Bester will bowl first. Sonowal to follow with blue balls.
Unlike the five ends in a set of women's pairs, a set in singles event will consist of seven ends. Each player will get four attempts in each ends.

- 23 July 2026 6:17 PM IST
UP NEXT: Putul Sonowal in Bowls Men's Singles
Putul Sonowal will be the next and final Indian in action on the opening day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Sonowal will be up against a 41-year-old Canadian Ryan Bester, who is a three-time Commonwealth Games medallist.
- 23 July 2026 6:04 PM IST
Bowls, Women's Pairs: Section B STANDINGS
India are placed second in Section B after their win over Malta. England, with their two sets win over Namibia, are currently at the top.

