The 2026 Commonwealth Games will get underway on Thursday in Glasgow, where India has sent a 126-member contingent featuring Olympic stars Neeraj Chopra and Mirabai Chanu among its leading medal hopes.
Indian flag along with flags of participating countries adorn The Hydro ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland, (PTI)
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This will be India's 19th appearance at the Commonwealth Games. Since 2002, India have consistently finished inside the top five in the medal table, winning at least 50 medals in each of the last six editions.
The spotlight on Day 1 will firmly be on the Opening Ceremony, where Olympic medallists Mirabai and Lovlina Borgohain will lead the Indian contingent. Mirabai will carry the Tricolour during the athletes' parade, while Lovlina will carry the ceremonial King's Baton.
On the sporting front, three Indian athletes will be in action as lawn bowls gets India's campaign underway in Glasgow.
CWG 2026 Day 1: Full India schedule
India's campaign begins on Thursday evening with Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki taking on Malta's Connie and Rebecca Rixon in the women's pairs sectional play. The Indian duo were part of the historic women's fours team that won India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in lawn bowls at Birmingham 2022.
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Later, world No. 21 Putul Sonowal will compete in the men's singles sectional play against Canada's Ryan Bester in what promises to be a stern test. Bester, a World Bowls Hall of Famer and the reigning men's singles world champion, is returning for his seventh consecutive Commonwealth Games.
India Day 1 schedule
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Later, world No. 21 Putul Sonowal will compete in the men's singles sectional play against Canada's Ryan Bester in what promises to be a stern test. Bester, a World Bowls Hall of Famer and the reigning men's singles world champion, is returning for his seventh consecutive Commonwealth Games.
India Day 1 schedule
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4:50 PM (tentative): Lawn Bowls (Women's Pairs) – Rupa Rani Tirkey & Pinki | SEC Centre
Glasgow 2026 also marks a first for the Commonwealth Games. Both lawn bowls and para lawn bowls will be staged indoors, with four portable rinks installed inside the SEC Centre. Previous editions featured outdoor greens. It was in Birmingham four years ago that India created history by winning one gold and one silver medal in the sport.
CWG 2026 Opening Ceremony
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Opening Ceremony (Indian athletes): 12:30 AM IST (July 24)
Where to watch Commonwealth Games 2026 live in India
Live streaming of the Commonwealth Games 2026 will be available on Sony LIV.
Television coverage will be available on Sony Sports Ten 2 and Sony Sports Ten 2 HD.
The Games will also be broadcast on Sony Sports Ten 3 Hindi and its HD channel, while Sony Sports Ten 4 will offer coverage in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. In addition, DD Sports will telecast the Games live via DD Free Dish.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, where Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series.
Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, where Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series.
Home/Sports/Others/India’s CWG 2026 schedule for July 23: Full list of athletes in action on Day 1, opening ceremony, where to watch
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