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 6:01 PM IST
Bowls, Women's Pairs: India wins the tiebreak
Pinki Singh comes in clutch, once again. With her final delivery, the skip turns the tables on Malta.
India looked comfortable for most part of the match, but had to work hard in the second and then the tiebreak to win it.
The Indian contingent is off to a winning start in Glasgow!
- 23 July 2026 5:54 PM IST
Bowls, Women's Pairs: Tiebreak EXPLAINED!
The tiebreak will be a one-end shoot-off. Both the lead and skip of each team will have three balls apiece. Whoever lands it closest to the jack, takes the match!
- 23 July 2026 5:53 PM IST
Bowls, Women's Pairs: Malta force a tiebreak!
Well, well, well...
Despite that excellent first set, India have been forced into a tie break. Malta wins the fifth end by playing their ball closer to the jack.
Malta wins the second set 4-3!
- 23 July 2026 5:51 PM IST
Bowls, Women's Pairs: India under pressure now...
Rupa Rani Tirkey in action at the 2026 Commonwealth Games against Malta (Photo credit: PTI)
- 23 July 2026 5:47 PM IST
Bowls, Women's Pairs: Malta wins a close End 4!
The fourth end of the second set is closely fought and the umpire has to bring out the measuring tape for the first time in the match!
After measurement, the verdict is Malta has landed closer to the jack than India by the barest of margins.
Malta have equalised at 3-3.
All to play for in the fifth and final end. If Malta wins, things could get interesting!
- 23 July 2026 5:39 PM IST
Bowls, Women's Pairs: Pinki Singh bails India out!
Malta, in the third end, seems to be in a great position to push India under pressure. But Pinki Singh with her second inch-perfect delivery, lands the ball just inches away from the jack.
It hands India a point as they go 3-1 up in the second set.
- 23 July 2026 5:34 PM IST
Bowls, Women's Pairs: Malta fightback to equalise!
It's the second end of the second set and much like in the first set, it is Malta winning it. This time, they have two balls closer to jack, than India's closest one.
The Rixon sisters have won two points in an end for the first time.
They've equalised the second set 2-2.
- 23 July 2026 5:28 PM IST
Bowls, Women's Pairs: India take the End 1 in second set!
India continue to assert their dominance over Malta. Tirkey and Singh have once again pocketed the first end with two points.
- 23 July 2026 5:26 PM IST
Bowls, Women's Pairs: Did you know India's Maltese opponents are sisters?
The players India are up against in this match – Rebecca Rixon and Connie Rixon – are siblings.
The duo along with their mother Rosemaree Rixon and Sharon Callus had won the women's fours bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
- 23 July 2026 5:22 PM IST
Bowls, Women's Pairs: A comfortable Set 1 for India
India lead 7-1 at the end of the first set!
