Commonwealth Games Day 4 proved to be a landmark day for India as Olympic medalist Mirabai Chanu secured the country’s first gold medal of the 2026 Commonwealth Games with a record-breaking performance in women’s weightlifting. Her victory not only added India’s first top podium finish of the competition but also highlighted another successful chapter in her remarkable career.
India also celebrated a silver medal through Rishikant Singh in the men’s 60kg event, strengthening the nation’s medal tally after an encouraging start to the Games. With three medals overall, India climbed into the top seven of the overall standings while several other Indian athletes prepared for crucial contests in gymnastics, lawn bowls, boxing, swimming, and additional weightlifting events.
Mirabai Chanu Delivers India’s First Gold Medal
Mirabai Chanu once again demonstrated why she remains one of India’s finest weightlifters. Competing in the women’s 49kg category, she lifted a combined 190kg to claim the gold medal.
Her winning total included:
- Snatch: 85kg
- Clean and Jerk: 105kg
- Total: 190kg
The performance also established a new Commonwealth Games record, making her victory even more memorable.
Chanu entered the competition as one of the favourites, carrying years of international experience and an Olympic medal to her name. She handled the pressure with confidence, executing her lifts cleanly and maintaining her dominance throughout the event.
The gold medal marked India’s first title of the Glasgow Games and gave the Indian contingent a significant boost as more medal events remain on the schedule.
India’s Medal Count Improves
Thanks to Mirabai Chanu’s gold and Rishikant Singh’s silver, India’s medal tally continued to grow during the early days of the Games.
India’s medals after Day 4 include:
- Gold: 1
- Silver: 1
- Bronze: 1
- Total Medals: 3
Earlier in the competition, para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar had earned India’s opening medal with a bronze, setting the tone for the country’s campaign.
The combination of medals lifted India to seventh place in the overall standings.
Commonwealth Games 2026 Medal Table
Following the latest medal events, the leading nations in the medal standings were:
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 12 | 5 | 7 | 24 |
| 2 | England | 3 | 7 | 5 | 15 |
| 3 | Nigeria | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | Scotland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | South Africa | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 6 | Canada | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 7 | India | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 8 | Malaysia | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 9 | New Zealand | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 10 | Wales | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Australia continued to dominate the competition with an impressive 24 medals, including 12 gold medals.
Rishikant Singh Adds Silver in Men’s 60kg Weightlifting
India’s second medal of the day came through Rishikant Singh, who produced an impressive effort in the men’s 60kg weightlifting event.
He recorded:
- Snatch: 121kg
- Clean and Jerk: 143kg
- Total Lift: 264kg
The combined lift earned him the silver medal and continued India’s strong tradition in Commonwealth weightlifting competitions.
His performance demonstrated remarkable consistency and composure against a competitive field.
A Second Commonwealth Games Appearance
The Glasgow Games mark Rishikant Singh’s second appearance at the Commonwealth Games.
He previously represented India at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, competing in the men’s 55kg category. Since then, he has moved into the 60kg division, where he has continued to develop into one of India’s leading lifters.
His steady progress over recent years has made him one of the country’s most reliable performers on the international stage.
Journey From Manipur to the International Stage
Rishikant Singh’s journey began in 2009, when he started training at the Manipur Sports Academy.
According to his early coach, Brojendra Singh, Rishikant displayed exceptional dedication from a young age. His performances soon earned him a place at a Sports Authority of India (SAI) training centre, where he continued to improve under professional coaching.
Later, he joined the Indian Navy for advanced training before becoming part of the Indian Army’s sports programme, which has helped produce several elite athletes across multiple disciplines.
Rishikant hails from Imphal West, Manipur, a state that has consistently produced some of India’s finest weightlifters. His family includes two brothers, with his elder brother serving in the Indian Army.
Achinta Singh Eyes Another Major Medal
India’s hopes in men’s weightlifting also rested on Achinta Singh, who entered the Commonwealth Games 2026 as one of the country’s strongest medal contenders.
His achievements include:
- Gold medal at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.
- Current Commonwealth champion in the men’s 60kg category.
- National record holder with a total lift of 271kg.
- Represented India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
- Returned to represent India again at Glasgow 2026.
His personal best consists of:
- Snatch: 120kg
- Clean and Jerk: 151kg
- Total: 271kg
Those numbers underline his status among the leading weightlifters in the Commonwealth.
Understanding How Weightlifting Medals Are Decided
Weightlifting competitions consist of two separate disciplines:
Snatch
The snatch requires the athlete to lift the barbell from the floor directly to an overhead position in one continuous movement.
Because the lift happens in a single motion, athletes need a combination of explosive strength, balance, flexibility, and precise technique. Even a slight loss of control can result in an unsuccessful attempt.
Clean and Jerk
The clean and jerk is completed in two stages.
First comes the clean, where the athlete lifts the barbell from the ground to the shoulders.
The second phase is the jerk, where the athlete drives the weight overhead using power generated from the legs, hips, and shoulders before locking the arms.
This event generally allows athletes to lift heavier weights than the snatch.
How Winners Are Determined
Each competitor receives three attempts in both the snatch and the clean and jerk.
Only the highest successful lift from each discipline counts.
The two best lifts are then added together to produce the athlete’s official total.
For example:
- Snatch: 120kg
- Clean and Jerk: 151kg
- Official Total: 271kg
The athlete with the highest combined total wins the competition.
Gold Medals Awarded on July 26
A total of 14 gold medals were decided during the day’s competition.
The distribution by sport was:
- Swimming and Para Swimming – 9
- Weightlifting – 3
- Artistic Gymnastics – 2
The schedule ensured another busy day across multiple venues as countries competed for valuable medals.
Lawn Bowls Team Faces Must-Win Situation
India’s women’s pairs team in lawn bowls suffered a narrow defeat to Namibia in a tie-break encounter.
The loss left the Indian pair of Rupa Rani Tirki and Pinki Singh needing victory against England to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
A win in their remaining sectional match would secure progression and keep India’s medal chances intact in the discipline.
Meanwhile, Putul Sonowal also prepared for an important men’s singles contest later in the day.
Busy Schedule Across Multiple Sports
While weightlifting delivered immediate success, several other Indian athletes had key events lined up throughout the day.
Artistic Gymnastics
Indian gymnasts Yogeshwar Singh and Tapan Mondal competed in the men’s all-around final.
Later in the evening, Indian participation in the women’s all-around final depended on qualification results.
Swimming
India fielded a men’s 4×200m freestyle relay team featuring:
- Srijit Nataraj
- Aryan Nehra
- Aneesh Gowda
- Dhyan Shah
The quartet first competed in the heats, with qualification offering the opportunity to race for medals in the final later the same night.
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Boxing
India also had a busy boxing schedule.
Among the notable bouts:
- Preeti Pawar competed in the women’s 54kg Round of 16.
- Jasmin Singh entered the men’s 55kg Round of 16 against a boxer from Pakistan.
- Aashish Patil Yadav prepared for his men’s 65kg Round of 16 contest against Uganda.
Each bout represented an opportunity for Indian boxers to move closer to medal contention.
Weightlifting Continues to Be India’s Strength
Over the past two decades, weightlifting has become one of India’s most dependable sports at the Commonwealth Games.
Indian lifters have consistently delivered medals through a combination of experienced champions and emerging talent. Athletes from states such as Manipur have played a particularly significant role, with the region producing numerous international-level competitors.
Mirabai Chanu’s latest triumph further reinforces India’s reputation in the sport, while younger lifters such as Rishikant Singh and Achinta Singh demonstrate the depth of talent available for future competitions.
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Looking Ahead After Commonwealth Games Day 4
Commonwealth Games Day 4 provided India with one of its strongest performances of the tournament so far. Mirabai Chanu’s record-breaking gold medal became the highlight of the day, while Rishikant Singh’s silver added further momentum to the Indian campaign.
With athletes still competing in gymnastics, swimming, boxing, lawn bowls, and additional weightlifting events, India has several opportunities to increase its medal tally over the coming days.
Although Australia continues to lead the overall standings comfortably, India’s early performances suggest there is room for further progress as the Games move into a crucial phase. Strong displays from experienced champions alongside promising young athletes have given the Indian contingent confidence that more podium finishes could follow before the Commonwealth Games conclude.