CWG 2026: Putul Sonowal stuns World Champion Ryan Bester on debut in Glasgow
Synopsis
On his Commonwealth Games debut, Putul Sonowal beat World Champion and Hall of Famer Ryan Bester of Canada in a tiebreaker — one of the biggest upsets in Indian bowls history. Earlier the same day, Pinki Singh and Rupa Rani Tirkey edged Malta in another tiebreak to give India a flying start in Glasgow 2026.
Key Takeaways
Putul Sonowal defeated reigning World Champion Ryan Bester (Canada) in a tiebreaker on his CWG debut in Glasgow on 23 July .
The match in Section D ended 1-1 in regulation (sets: 5-4 Sonowal, 7-3 Bester) before the tiebreak.
Bester is a two-time CWG silver medallist and seven-time World Outdoor Championships medallist, including gold at the 2023 edition.
Pinki Singh and Rupa Rani Tirkey beat Malta in a tiebreak in women's pairs — the first CWG edition where the sport is officially called Bowls in its indoor format.
Sonowal next faces Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands on Friday .
Putul Sonowal delivered one of India's most dramatic upsets at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on Thursday, 23 July, defeating reigning World Champion and World Bowls Hall of Fame inductee Ryan Bester of Canada in men's singles sectional play — all on his Commonwealth Games debut. The victory came in a nail-biting tiebreaker after the two sets ended level in Round 1 of Section D.
How the Match Unfolded
Sonowal, ranked 21st in the world, drew first blood by clinching a tight opening set 5-4 against Bester, a two-time CWG silver medallist. The Canadian, however, bounced back emphatically to take the second set 7-3, forcing a tiebreaker.
Bester won the toss and had the first roll in the tiebreak, bringing his vast experience to bear. Yet it was Sonowal whose opening delivery landed closest to the kitty — and that single bowl proved decisive, sealing a famous win for the reigning Asian champion.
Who Is Ryan Bester
Bester is no ordinary opponent. He claimed a bronze in men's singles at the 2006 Manchester Commonwealth Games, followed by silver medals at Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018. His record at the World Outdoor Championships is equally formidable — seven medals in Singles and Pairs, including gold and bronze at the 2023 edition. Beating him on debut underlines just how significant Sonowal's achievement is.
Sonowal will next face Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands in his Section D match on Friday.
Pinki and Rupa Give India an Early Lift in Women's Pairs
Earlier on Thursday, the Indian pair of Pinki Singh and Rupa Rani Tirkey opened their campaign with a hard-fought tiebreak victory over Malta in the women's pairs sectional Group Play stage — the first time the discipline has been officially called Bowls in Commonwealth Games history, now played in an indoor format.
India started well, with Tirkey settling into rhythm and Pinki converting accurate deliveries for an early 2-0 lead. Malta, represented by sisters Rebecca Louise Rixon and Connie-Leigh Rixon, fought back to trim the margin to 2-1. In a crucial third end, with Malta seemingly holding the advantage, Pinki's bowl — initially appearing short — was confirmed on closer inspection to be nearest to the jack, extending India's lead.
The Rixon sisters kept the contest alive through a tense second set before Pinki produced the decisive delivery in the tiebreak to seal the win for India.
India's Broader Position in Bowls
The results mark a strong collective start for India in the bowls competition at Glasgow 2026. This is notably the first CWG edition where the sport is officially branded as 'Bowls' in its indoor format, adding a historic dimension to the Indian performances. With Sonowal advancing and the women's pairs duo through, India's medal prospects in the discipline look promising heading into the next round of fixtures.
Point of View
In a tiebreaker, points to a quietly deepening talent pool that receives little institutional attention. If India is serious about diversifying its CWG medal tally beyond the usual suspects, investing in bowls — where the competition window is relatively open — is low-hanging fruit that administrators have historically underplucked.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Putul Sonowal and what did he achieve at CWG 2026?
Putul Sonowal is an Indian lawn bowls player ranked 21st in the world and the reigning Asian champion. On his Commonwealth Games debut at Glasgow 2026, he defeated reigning World Champion Ryan Bester of Canada in a dramatic tiebreaker in men's singles Section D play.
Who is Ryan Bester and why is this result an upset?
Ryan Bester is a Canadian lawn bowls player, a World Bowls Hall of Fame inductee, two-time CWG silver medallist, and seven-time World Outdoor Championships medallist including a gold at the 2023 edition. Beating him on a CWG debut makes Sonowal's victory one of the biggest upsets in Indian bowls history.
What happened in the women's pairs bowls match for India?
Pinki Singh and Rupa Rani Tirkey defeated Malta's Rebecca Louise Rixon and Connie-Leigh Rixon in a tiebreak in the women's pairs Group Play stage. Pinki produced the decisive bowl in the tiebreak after the teams were locked in a tense contest across two sets.
What is new about bowls at Commonwealth Games 2026?
CWG 2026 in Glasgow marks the first time the discipline is officially called 'Bowls' and is played in an indoor format, representing a historic change in how the sport is presented at the Games.
What is Putul Sonowal's next match at CWG 2026?
Sonowal will face Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands in his next Section D match on Friday as he continues his campaign in men's singles bowls at Glasgow 2026.
