Commonwealth Games 2026: India's Putul Sonowal Stuns World Champion Ryan Bester; Pinki Singh & Rupa Tirkey Win Lawn Bowls Opener | Video
· Free Press Journal
Glasgow: India's Pinki Singh and Rupa Rani Tirkey began their Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign with a hard-fought victory in the women's pairs event, while Putul Sonowal stunned reigning world champion Ryan Bester of Canada in the men's singles at the Scottish Event Campus on Thursday, according to Olympics.com.
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|| #IndiaAtCWG ||
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 23, 2026
, : India makes a splendid start to its campaign with an exciting victory in the Women's Pairs Group Play.
✨In the Bowls women's pairs competition, Pinki Singh and Rupa Rani Tirki secured a win by… pic.twitter.com/x4ZYNWp8i7
Pinki and Rupa, members of India's gold medal-winning women's fours team from Birmingham 2022, defeated Malta's Connie Rixon and Rebecca Rixon in their Section B contest.
The perfect roll to begin Team India's campaign!
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 23, 2026
Rupa Rani Tirkey & Pinki defeat Malta to hand India its opening victory in the Women's Pairs Sectional Play.
Watch the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026 LIVE NOW exclusively on Sony Sports Network TV channels and Sony LIV.… pic.twitter.com/W6uqicDmiL
The Indian duo dominated the opening set 7-1, but Malta fought back to win the second set and force a tie-break. Pinki's final bowl proved decisive as India sealed the victory.
Meanwhile, 43-year-old Putul Sonowal marked his Commonwealth Games debut with an impressive win over reigning world champion Bester. The reigning Asian champion prevailed in a tie-break after the two players split the opening two sets.
What a result for #TeamIndia!
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 23, 2026
Putul Sonowal pulls off a stunning upset, defeating reigning World Outdoor Champion Ryan Bester in the tie-breaker.
Watch the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026 LIVE NOW exclusively on Sony Sports Network TV channels and Sony LIV.… pic.twitter.com/X5Onplk4pe
Sonowal edged the first set 5-4 before Bester responded with a 7-3 win in the second set in their Section D opener. The section features six players, with the winners of each of the four sections advancing to the semi-finals.
Putul will next face Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands in his second men's singles Section D match, while Pinki and Rupa will take on South Africa in their next women's pairs fixture. Both matches are scheduled for Friday.
#WATCH | Glasgow, Scotland: On defeating world champion Ryan Bester in the men's singles lawn bowls sectional play at the Commonwealth Games, lawn bowls player Putul Sonowal says, “I feel very good because for me this match was very important; playing against the world champion… pic.twitter.com/lIkx3vnVW6
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2026
At Glasgow 2026, bowls has begun with sectional group play, with players and teams competing in a round-robin format for a place in the knockout stages.
The competition is being staged indoors for the first time at a Commonwealth Games, while the basic objective remains the same -- rolling the bowls as close as possible to the jack, the small target ball.
(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)