Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh remain unbeaten after tie-break win over Tonga at CWG 2026
Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh recorded their third straight victory in the women's lawn bowls pairs on Saturday, defeating Tonga in a tense tie-breaker to extend their unbeaten run at the Commonwealth Games 2026. The result moved the Indian duo closer to a place in the pairs semifinals. Meanwhile, Indian swimmers Dhakshan Shashikumar and Aryan Nehra did not qualify for the finals of the men's 400m freestyle at the swimming centre.
The lawn bowls pairing of Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh have been consistent through the early stages of the competition, registering a third consecutive win in the pairs event. Their latest match against Tonga was decided in a tie-breaker, reflecting the close nature of the contest. That victory preserved their undefeated status and strengthened India’s position in the women’s pairs section of the tournament. On the aquatic side, Dhakshan Shashikumar and Aryan Nehra took part in the men's 400m freestyle but failed to progress to the final round.
In the match that confirmed their hat-trick of wins, Tirkey and Singh held their composure as the game reached a tie-breaker against the Tongan duo. The tie-break scenario tested both teams under pressure, but the Indian pair emerged successful and secured the match win. That outcome keeps them on track in the round-robin phase and adds momentum to their campaign in the pairs bracket.
Their unbeaten streak through three matches carries particular significance in a format where consistency across multiple sessions is crucial. Each victory contributes points that will determine which teams advance toward the knockout stages, and for Tirkey and Singh this latest result narrows the path to the semifinals. The pair have now positioned themselves as one of the contenders to watch within the women's pairs field.
At the swimming centre, both Dhakshan Shashikumar and Aryan Nehra contested the men's 400m freestyle but did not advance to the event final. Their elimination from that race means they will not feature in the medal-deciding swim for that distance at these Games. The pair will therefore conclude their participation in that particular discipline without a finals appearance.
The day left India with mixed fortunes across disciplines: a strong performance and continued progress in lawn bowls from Tirkey and Singh, contrasted with the disappointment of the two swimmers who fell short of the final. The lawn bowls success brings the Indian women's pairs closer to a semifinal berth, while the swimming event concluded for Dhakshan Shashikumar and Aryan Nehra at the heats stage.
