India are assured of their first medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games even before the contingent officially begins its campaign in Glasgow, with Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain guaranteed at least a bronze in the women's 75kg boxing event.
Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain during a training session for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026, (PTI)
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The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist was handed a first-round bye in the five-boxer draw, automatically securing a place in the last four. Since both losing semifinalists are awarded bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games, the Assam boxer is guaranteed a podium finish before even stepping into the ring.
A Commonwealth Games medal was the only major accolade missing from Lovlina's glittering résumé, which already includes an Olympic bronze, a World Championships title, and Asian Championships gold.
Lovlina will compete in her semifinal on July 31, where she will face TKBP Taafaki for a place in the gold medal bout.
The assured medal, which comes hours before the opening ceremony at Glasgow's Hydro, where Lovlina will serve as India's baton bearer, provides the Indian contingent with an early morale boost.
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The assured medal, which comes hours before the opening ceremony at Glasgow's Hydro, where Lovlina will serve as India's baton bearer, provides the Indian contingent with an early morale boost.
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Compared to the 2022 Birmingham Games, India have sent a much leaner contingent of 125 athletes after the Commonwealth Games Federation trimmed the programme to just 10 sports for the 2026 edition following financial constraints and a late change of host city.
With medal-rich disciplines such as badminton, hockey, wrestling and table tennis absent, India will rely heavily on athletics, boxing and weightlifting to extend their remarkable run of top-five finishes at the Commonwealth Games, a streak that dates back to 2002.
While Lovlina has already secured a medal, India boast several other podium contenders in boxing. Reigning 57kg world champion Jaismine Lamboria will look to improve on the bronze she won in Birmingham, while Asian champion Preeti Pawar (54kg), Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) are among India's strongest medal hopes in the women's events.
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The men's campaign will be led by seasoned heavyweight Narender Berwal (+90kg) and World Cup medallist Sachin Siwach (60kg), both expected to challenge for podium finishes.
India's campaign officially gets underway on Thursday with two lawn bowls ties before the opening ceremony later in the evening.
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.
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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 first CWG 2026 medal sealed before opening ceremony as Lovlina Borgohain guarantees podium finish
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