CWG 2026: Putul Sonowal beats Alexander in tiebreak, stays unbeaten in Glasgow
Synopsis
On his Commonwealth Games debut, Putul Sonowal first stunned world champion Ryan Bester and then beat Cecil Alexander in back-to-back tiebreaks in Glasgow. The Asian champion, ranked 21st in the world, is shaping up as India's most surprising story of CWG 2026.
Key Takeaways
Putul Sonowal defeated Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands in a tiebreak ( 1-0 ) in Men's Singles Section D at CWG 2026 on 25 July .
Sonowal won the first set 7-5 , lost the second 6-8 , then clinched the tiebreak 1-0 .
On Thursday , Sonowal upset reigning World Champion Ryan Bester of Canada on his Commonwealth Games debut.
Bester is a World Bowls Hall of Fame inductee with seven World Outdoor Championship medals , including a 2023 gold .
Sonowal, ranked 21st in the world , next faces a Malaysian opponent in Section D on Saturday .
India's lawn bowls star Putul Sonowal kept his Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign alive with a hard-fought tiebreak win over Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands in the Men's Singles Section D play in Glasgow on Friday, 25 July. The reigning Asian Champion held his nerve when it mattered most, clinching the decider 1-0 to stay unbeaten in the competition.
How the Match Unfolded
Sonowal drew first blood, taking the opening set 7-5 with a narrow but composed performance. Alexander responded sharply, winning the second set 8-6 to force a tiebreaker. In the high-pressure decider, Sonowal's opening bowl landed close to the kitty — a position Alexander could not better — sealing the match 1-0 in the tiebreak.
The Upset That Started It All
Friday's result built on an even more remarkable performance the previous day. On Thursday, in his Commonwealth Games debut, Sonowal stunned reigning World Champion and World Bowls Hall of Fame inductee Ryan Bester of Canada in another tiebreak thriller. Ranked just 21st in the world, Sonowal won the first set 5-4 before Bester levelled with a commanding 7-3 second set. Sonowal then held firm in the tiebreak to complete one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Bester is no ordinary opponent. The Canadian claimed a bronze at the 2006 Manchester Commonwealth Games and back-to-back silvers at Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018. He has also accumulated seven medals at World Outdoor Championships in Singles and Pairs, including a gold in the 2023 edition.
What This Means for India
Sonowal's back-to-back wins have given India a superb start in the bowls competition at CWG 2026. Beating a world champion on debut and then surviving a tiebreak against a competitive Falkland Islands opponent signals that the Asian champion is more than capable of progressing deep into the draw. Notably, this is only Sonowal's first Commonwealth Games appearance, making his run all the more striking.
What's Next
Sonowal is scheduled to face a Malaysian player in his next Section D match on Saturday. A win there would significantly strengthen his prospects of advancing from the preliminary stage. India's bowls contingent will be watching closely as the competition heats up in Glasgow.
Point of View
But a world-ranked 21st player defeating a Hall of Famer and then grinding out a second consecutive tiebreak win is precisely the kind of underdog story that CWG legacies are built on. The real test comes Saturday — a third straight tiebreak grind could be physically and mentally costly.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Putul Sonowal?
Putul Sonowal is India's top lawn bowls player and the reigning Asian Champion in the discipline. He is ranked 21st in the world and is competing at his first Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2026.
How did Sonowal beat Cecil Alexander at CWG 2026?
Sonowal won the first set 7-5 but lost the second 6-8, forcing a tiebreak. He then clinched the tiebreak 1-0, with his opening bowl landing close to the kitty to secure the match on 25 July in Glasgow.
Who is Ryan Bester and why was beating him a major upset?
Ryan Bester is the reigning World Champion in lawn bowls, a World Bowls Hall of Fame inductee, and a two-time CWG silver medallist. He has seven World Outdoor Championship medals including a 2023 gold, making Sonowal's debut win over him one of the biggest upsets of CWG 2026.
What is Sonowal's next match at CWG 2026?
Sonowal is scheduled to face a Malaysian player in his next Section D match on Saturday, 26 July, in Glasgow.
How is India performing in lawn bowls at CWG 2026?
India has made a strong start in the bowls competition at CWG 2026, with Sonowal's back-to-back wins — including a debut upset over the world champion — marking one of the country's standout early performances at the Games.
