India opens CWG 2026 medal account as Jhandu Kumar takes bronze on Day 2

India began its Commonwealth Games 2026 medal haul on Day 2 when para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar won bronze in the men's heavyweight event. The day also saw Ashok Malik and Karthik Budigina finish fourth, boxer Jadumani Singh advance, Srihari Nataraj bow out in the semifinals, and India's lawn bowls teams extend their strong showing in Glasgow.

Competition in Glasgow moved into its second day with several Indian athletes reaching late stages across different disciplines. Jhandu Kumar’s podium finish provided the country its first medal of the Games, while a handful of competitors came close to joining him on the medal table. Several athletes progressed through early rounds, and others were eliminated after tightly contested contests. The lawn bowls contingent maintained momentum, building on performances from earlier sessions.

Para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar secured bronze in the men's heavyweight event, giving India its opening medal of CWG 2026. His result stands as the nation’s initial entry on the medal board and came amid a day of mixed outcomes for the Indian contingent. The podium finish offered a tangible reward after the early rounds of competition.

Two Indian athletes, Ashok Malik and Karthik Budigina, ended the day just outside the medals with fourth-place finishes. Their performances kept them in contention but ultimately left them short of the podium. Elsewhere on the schedule, boxer Jadumani Singh won his bout to move forward in the tournament, while Srihari Nataraj’s campaign concluded when he exited in the semifinals.

India’s lawn bowls teams continued to impress in Glasgow, maintaining the form they have shown in the opening days. The groups’ results added depth to the country’s overall performances across the sport programme. Their progress provided further reasons for optimism among the Indian delegation.

The bronze from Jhandu Kumar marks India’s first medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 and highlights both successes and near-misses from Day 2. Several athletes remain active in their events, offering further opportunities to add to the medal tally in the coming sessions.