New Delhi: India got off to an impressive start to their Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign as grassroots bowler Putul Sonowal pulled off a stunning upset against world champion Ryan Bester of Canada in the Men’s Singles event on Thursday.Making her Commonwealth Games debut, the Assam-born bowler showed remarkable composure to defeat one of the biggest names in the game, winning the tournament in stoppage time after both players shared the opening two sets.Sonowal, the reigning Asian champion, won the first set 5-4 before Bester responded strongly with a dominant 7-3 victory in the second set to force a decider.However, the Indian kept his composure when it mattered most, and tied the break to complete a memorable victory in his Section D opener.The win was largely due to Bester’s decorated career. The Canadian has won several Commonwealth Games medals, including bronze in Men’s Singles in 2006 and silver medals in 2014 and 2018. He also has seven World Outdoor Championships medals, including the Singles gold in 2023, and was inducted into the first class of the World Bowls Hall of Fame 2025.Sonowal will face Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands on Friday.
Rupa Rani-Pinki survived the Women’s Pairs match
India’s strong start continued in the Women’s Pairs event, as the experienced pair of Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh defeated Malta in a thrilling encounter.The Indian pair made a strong start at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) Hall 3, winning the opening set 7-1 against Malta’s Rebecca Louise Rixon and Connie-Leigh Rixon.But Malta fought back in the second set, winning 4-3 to take the match into the break. In the end, India found themselves trailing Pink before they bowled the final over to seal victory.In grass bowls, the skip is the team captain who chooses the course and plays the last two bowls, while the umpire serves the first bowl and looks to putt close to the target.The Indian Women’s Pairs team will now face South Africa in their second Group B match on Friday.Both Tirkey and Pinki were members of the famous Women’s Fours team that won gold medals for India at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. However, the Fours event has been removed from the Glasgow edition, leaving the Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles competitions.India also won a silver medal at the Mens Fours event in Birmingham, and Sonowal’s stunning win has raised hopes of another strong grass bowls campaign.