India Shines at Commonwealth Games 2026 with Six Medals on Day 5

India's Medal Surge at Commonwealth Games

On July 28, India celebrated its most successful day yet at the Commonwealth Games 2026, securing six medals on Day 5. The highlight was Sharmila Dhankar's groundbreaking gold in the women's shot put F57, while Gyaneshwari Yadav, Sarvesh Kushare, and Valluri Ajaya Babu each earned silver medals. Additionally, Bindyarani Devi and Shilpa K. Shyla contributed bronze medals, bringing India's total medal count to 10.

The day was particularly memorable for para athletics, as Sharmila Dhankar achieved a season-best throw of 9.81 meters, marking her as India's first gold medalist in para athletics at the Commonwealth Games, as reported by ESPN.

India's joy was amplified when Shilpa K. Shyla was elevated from fourth to bronze after Nigeria's Eucharia Iyiazi was disqualified, resulting in India's first double podium finish at the Glasgow Games. Ghana's Zinabu Issah secured silver with a throw of 8.65m.

In men's high jump, Sarvesh Kushare made history by becoming the first Indian to win a silver medal, clearing 2.25m but losing out on gold to Jamaica's Romaine Beckford due to countback. England's Kimani Jack took bronze with a height of 2.20m.

Weightlifting continued to be a stronghold for India, adding three more medals to the tally, making it six in total for the sport.

Gyaneshwari Yadav kicked off the day by winning silver in the women's 53kg category during her Commonwealth Games debut. The 23-year-old lifted a personal-best total of 199kg (88kg in snatch and 111kg in clean and jerk), successfully completing all six attempts. She briefly held the Commonwealth Games clean and jerk record before Nigeria's Onome Omolola Didih surpassed it with a Games-record total of 206kg.

Bindyarani Devi followed suit, earning bronze in the women's 58kg category, marking her second consecutive Commonwealth Games medal after a silver in Birmingham four years prior. She totaled 199kg (87kg in snatch and 112kg in clean and jerk), while Nigeria's Rafiatu Folashade Lawal defended her title with a Games-record total of 229kg.

In the final weightlifting event of the day, Valluri Ajaya Babu narrowly missed gold in the men's 79kg competition, setting a Commonwealth Games record of 149kg in the snatch and finishing with a total of 330kg. Malaysia's Muhammad Erry Hidayat claimed gold with 331kg after a Games-record clean and jerk of 184kg, while Scotland's Chris Murray took bronze with 325kg.

India also showcased promising performances in other sports.

Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar qualified for the men's long jump final with a jump of 8.01m, and Lokesh Satyanathan also advanced with a jump of 7.77m.

Tejas Shirse reached the men's 110m hurdles final, clocking 13.76 seconds in the heats, although he finished last in the final.

Gurindervir Singh's campaign concluded in the men's 100m heats, where he clocked 10.39 seconds, placing 28th overall.

In swimming, Olympian Sajan Prakash advanced to the men's 200m butterfly final with a time of 1:59.58, finishing eighth in the medal race.

Aryan Nehra placed seventh in the men's 800m freestyle final, while para swimmer Swatik Patil qualified for the men's 100m breaststroke SB9 final with the sixth-fastest time in the heats, finishing fifth in the final.

Indian boxers continued their strong performance, with Sachin Siwach defeating England's William Hewitt 4-1 in the men's 60kg round of 16, Ankush winning 5-0 against Antigua and Barbuda's Zalaan Jan in the men's 80kg division, and Sakshi Choudhary beating Botswana's Lethabo Modukanele 5-0 in the women's 51kg category.

However, Sumit Kundu exited after losing to Northern Ireland's Jon McConnell in the men's 70kg round of 16.

In artistic gymnastics, Protistha Samanta finished seventh in the women's vault final, while Putul Sonowal faced defeat against Kenya's Anwar Hamada in the men's singles sectional play in bowls.

By the end of Day 5, India had amassed a total of 10 medals: two gold, five silver, and three bronze.

The Indian medallists so far include Mirabai Chanu (gold, weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (gold, women's shot put F57), Rishikanta Singh (silver, weightlifting), Muthupandi Raja (silver, weightlifting), Gyaneshwari Yadav (silver, weightlifting), Sarvesh Kushare (silver, men's high jump), Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver, weightlifting), Bindyarani Devi (bronze, weightlifting), Shilpa K. Shyla (bronze, women's shot put F57), and Jhandu Kumar (bronze, para powerlifting).