CWG 2026: India Off to Flying Start as Women's Lawn Bowls Pair Edge Malta 2-1; Putul Sonowal Stuns World Champion In Men’s Singles

CWG 2026: India kicked off their Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign on the perfect note with two impressive victories on Thursday, as the experienced women's pair of Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh edged past Malta in a thrilling tie-break before debutant Putul Sonowal stunned reigning world champion Ryan Bester in the men's singles.

Experienced lawn ball athletes Rupa Rani Tirkey & Pinki Singh overcame Malta in a tense opening-round contest in Section B. The Indian duo dominated the opening set, cruising to a convincing 7-1 victory to take an early advantage. However, Malta's Rebecca Louise Rixon and Connie-Leigh Rixon mounted a spirited comeback, claiming the second set 4-3 to force a tie-break.

With the match hanging in the balance, India found themselves trailing before Pinki Singh delivered a superb final ball under pressure to seal a dramatic victory.

Tirkey and Pinki were key members of India's historic women's fours team that clinched gold at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022. Although the fours discipline has been removed from the Glasgow programme, the experienced pair have quickly established themselves as strong medal contenders in the pairs event. They will next take on South Africa in their second Section B fixture on Friday.

CWG 2026: Putul Sonowal Upsets World Champion Ryan Bester

Later in the day, Putul Sonowal produced one of the biggest upsets of the opening day by defeating Canada's Ryan Bester in the Men's Singles Section D.

Making his Commonwealth Games debut, the reigning Asian champion from Assam displayed remarkable composure against one of the sport's most accomplished names. Sonowal edged the opening set 5-4 before Bester fought back with a dominant 7-3 win in the second set to take the match into a tie-break.

Undeterred by the occasion, Sonowal held his nerve in the decider to complete a memorable victory over the 2023 world champion and multiple Commonwealth Games medallist.

Bester's decorated career includes Commonwealth Games medals in 2006, 2014 and 2018, seven World Outdoor Championships medals, and induction into the inaugural World Bowls Hall of Fame in 2025. Sonowal will next face Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands in his second group-stage match on Friday as India looks to build on an encouraging opening day in Glasgow.