Day 2 of the Commonwealth Games 2026, held on July 25 in Glasgow, was a relatively quiet day for India on the medal front, but it delivered one significant confirmed podium finish and several encouraging performances that set up the week ahead.
Boxer Lovlina Borgohain became India’s first confirmed medallist of the day without even stepping into the ring. Having received a direct bye into the semifinals of the women’s 75kg category, the Olympic medallist was guaranteed at least a bronze under Commonwealth Games boxing rules, which award bronze to both losing semifinalists. It gave India an early psychological lift heading into the rest of the Games.
Elsewhere, India’s lawn bowls pair Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh continued their fine form, beating Tonga in the women’s pairs sectional play to stay unbeaten. In boxing, Sachin Siwach opened his campaign with a win over Canada’s Keoma Al-Ahmadieh in the men’s 60kg round of 32.
It was a quieter day in the pool, with swimmers Dhakshan Shashikumar and Aryan Nehra both failing to qualify for the men’s 400m freestyle final. India’s historic first appearance in 3×3 wheelchair basketball at the Commonwealth Games also began on Day 2, though the team lost its opening pool match to Wales.
With badminton, wrestling, and hockey all absent from the streamlined Glasgow 2026 programme, India’s medal hopes this year are spread more thinly across fewer traditional strongholds. Day 2 was largely a preparation day for the marquee events to come, particularly weightlifting, where two-time Commonwealth Games champion Mirabai Chanu was gearing up for her campaign, and athletics, where Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra’s javelin campaign was still days away.
By the close of Day 2, India held a single confirmed medal through Lovlina Borgohain, with weightlifting, artistic gymnastics, and lawn bowls events continuing to build momentum heading into Day 3. The Indian camp used the day to fine-tune preparations for what would turn out to be a much more productive stretch of competition starting the following day, when weightlifting finals began delivering India’s first podium finishes of the Games in bulk.