CWG 2026: India bowls off to flying start with upsets on opening day
Synopsis
On the opening day of CWG 2026 in Glasgow, India's bowls squad delivered back-to-back upsets — Pinki Singh and Rupa Rani Tirkey edged Malta in a tiebreak, while debutant Putul Sonowal stunned World Champion Ryan Bester of Canada. With the indoor format being used at a Commonwealth Games for the first time, India's composed start is a statement of intent.
Key Takeaways
India's bowls team won both their opening matches at CWG 2026 in Glasgow on 24 July 2026 .
Pinki Singh and Rupa Rani Tirkey defeated Malta in a tiebreak in the Women's Pairs sectional Group Play.
Debutant Putul Sonowal upset reigning World Champion Ryan Bester of Canada in Men's Singles, winning a tiebreaker after the match ended 1-1 in regulation.
Sonowal, the reigning Asian champion , next faces Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands on Friday .
This is the first Commonwealth Games to use the new indoor Bowls format officially.
Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya attended the matches and praised the team's performance on X .
India's bowls contingent delivered a stunning opening-day performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Thursday, 24 July, with both the women's pairs and men's singles teams recording hard-fought victories that have set the tone for the nation's campaign. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sport Dr Mansukh Mandaviya was present at the venue and publicly celebrated the results.
Women's Pairs: Pinki and Rupa Edge Past Malta in Tiebreak Drama
The Indian women's pairs combination of Pinki Singh and Rupa Rani Tirkey opened India's Glasgow 2026 Bowls campaign with a nervy but ultimately decisive win over Malta in the sectional Group Play stage. Competing under the discipline's new indoor format — now officially called Bowls for the first time in Commonwealth Games history — the Indian duo faced sisters Rebecca Louise Rixon and Connie-Leigh Rixon in a contest that stretched to a tiebreak.
India made a composed start, with Rupa Rani Tirkey settling into her rhythm before Pinki capitalised with accurate deliveries to earn a 2-0 early advantage. After a tense second set, it was Pinki who produced the decisive bowl in the tiebreak to seal the contest and hand India their first points of the Games.
Sonowal Stuns World Champion Bester on Debut
Later on Thursday, Putul Sonowal produced arguably the day's biggest upset, defeating reigning World Champion and World Bowls Hall of Fame inductee Ryan Bester of Canada on his Commonwealth Games debut. The men's singles clash in Section D of the preliminary round ended 1-1 in regulation before heading into a tiebreaker, which Sonowal won after his opening attempt landed close to the kitty — a placement that proved decisive.
Sonowal, the reigning Asian champion, will next face Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands in his second Section D match on Friday. The win over Bester is considered a significant scalp given the Canadian's standing in the global game.
What the Minister Said
'A thrilling start to #Glasgow2026! Witnessed an absolute edge-of-the-seat thriller today as our athletes clinched a spectacular victory on the very last delivery against Malta in the Bowls Women's Pairs event,' Dr Mandaviya wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.
Context and What It Means for India
Bowls has been a quiet but consistent medal-hunting ground for India at the Commonwealth Games, and the opening-day results suggest the squad has arrived in Glasgow in strong form. Notably, the indoor format being used for the first time at a Commonwealth Games adds a layer of unfamiliarity for all competing nations — making India's confident start all the more significant. With Sonowal's run continuing on Friday and the women's pairs advancing through the group stage, India's bowls programme is one to watch as the Games progress.
Point of View
No less — is not a routine upset. The broader pattern is consistent: bowls quietly delivers for India at Commonwealth Games while flashier sports dominate the headlines. If Sonowal advances and the women's pairs sustain their momentum, India could be looking at genuine medal contention in a discipline that rarely gets primetime coverage back home. That disconnect between performance and attention is worth fixing.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did India perform in bowls on Day 1 of CWG 2026?
India won both their opening matches on 24 July at CWG 2026 in Glasgow. The women's pairs team of Pinki Singh and Rupa Rani Tirkey defeated Malta in a tiebreak, while Putul Sonowal beat World Champion Ryan Bester of Canada in men's singles.
Who is Putul Sonowal and why is his win significant?
Putul Sonowal is India's reigning Asian champion in bowls and was making his Commonwealth Games debut at Glasgow 2026. His win over Ryan Bester — a World Champion and World Bowls Hall of Fame inductee — is considered a major upset in the men's singles competition.
What is the new indoor Bowls format at CWG 2026?
Glasgow 2026 marks the first time the Commonwealth Games has officially used an indoor format for Bowls, now simply called 'Bowls' in the programme. The format adds an element of novelty for all competing nations, including established powerhouses.
What did Sports Minister Dr Mandaviya say about India's performance?
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, who was present at the venue, posted on X calling it 'a thrilling start to #Glasgow2026' and described the Women's Pairs win over Malta as 'an absolute edge-of-the-seat thriller' decided on the very last delivery.
What are India's next matches in bowls at CWG 2026?
Putul Sonowal is scheduled to face Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands in his next Section D match on Friday. The women's pairs team of Pinki Singh and Rupa Rani Tirkey will continue their Group Play campaign as well.
