Mandengbam Jadumani Singh Aims for Gold After Securing Bronze at Commonwealth Games

Jadumani Singh Advances to Semifinals

Glasgow [Scotland], July 29: Indian boxer Mandengbam Jadumani Singh has set his sights on gold after clinching at least a bronze medal by reaching the semifinals in the men's 55kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow on Tuesday night.

The boxer from Manipur triumphed over Zambia's Mwale with a unanimous decision in the quarterfinals, ensuring India another medal in boxing, as both semifinal losers are awarded bronze at these Games.

Reflecting on his match, Jadumani expressed, “I aim to perform even better in the semifinals and secure gold for India. It was a challenging fight today. I knew I had more strength, but he was quicker with his punches. I dedicate this medal to my uncle, who has supported me throughout my journey.”

Jadumani faced an aggressive start from his Zambian opponent, who utilized rapid combinations in a tightly contested opening round. Despite the pressure, the Indian boxer managed to win the first round 4-1 according to the judges' scorecards, as reported by ESPN.

From the second round onward, Jadumani took command of the match with strategic tactics, agile footwork, and precise punches. He swept the second round unanimously and maintained his lead in the final round.

The judges scored the bout 30-27 on three cards and 29-28 on the other two, confirming Jadumani's advancement to the semifinals and highlighting India's strong boxing performance at the Glasgow Games.

India's boxing coach, Hari Kishan Belwal, commended Jadumani, stating, “The medal is secured, but we are hopeful for gold. The quarterfinals are often the toughest, but his confidence and body language suggest he will succeed.”

Jadumani's victory marked a successful day for the Indian boxing team, with Preeti Pawar and Priya Ghanghas also moving on to the semifinals in their respective categories, ensuring India two more medals.

Preeti advanced to the women's 54kg semifinals with a decisive 5-0 win over Nicole Clyde, while reigning Asian champion Priya Ghanghas overcame a slow start to defeat Scotland's Niamh Mitchell in the women's 60kg quarterfinal.

Jadumani's medal will contribute to India's growing medal tally at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, where the nation has showcased impressive performances across various sports, particularly in boxing, weightlifting, and athletics.

India has had a remarkable campaign in Glasgow, amassing a total of 12 medals thus far — two gold, seven silver, and three bronze.

Notable Indian medallists 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), Gulveer Singh (silver, 10,000m), Harjinder Kaur (silver, weightlifting), Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver, weightlifting), Bindyarani Devi (bronze, weightlifting), Shilpa K. Shyla (bronze, women's shot put F57), and Jhandu Kumar (bronze, para powerlifting).