PT Usha Encourages Indian Athletes Ahead of Commonwealth Games 2026

Usha's Confidence in Indian Contingent

In Glasgow, on July 25, the President of the Indian Olympic Association, PT Usha, expressed her admiration for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2026. She conveyed her optimism regarding the Indian athletes, urging them to concentrate on their events and strive for excellence.

Usha emphasized the confidence of the Indian athletes, stating, "I have faith in their abilities and expect them to excel. They must focus on their individual events, trust themselves, and give their utmost effort. If they perform at their best, medals will follow naturally."

She praised the opening ceremony, noting that the athletes remained engaged and enjoyed the entire program from their front-row seats.

India has already secured its first medal at the Games, a bronze in powerlifting. Usha commended the athlete for narrowly missing gold but highlighted the pride associated with the achievement.

"We have kicked off our campaign with a bronze in powerlifting. Although he just missed out on gold, a medal is still a medal, and he has made us proud," Usha remarked.

She also acknowledged boxer Lovlina Borgohain's strong performance, expressing hope that Indian athletes would continue to shine in their respective competitions.

"Lovlina performed admirably, and I believe all our athletes will keep up the good work," she added.

India's medal tally at the 2026 Commonwealth Games began with Jhandu Kumar, who won bronze in the men's heavyweight para powerlifting final in Glasgow. Jhandu lifted 190kg, earning 130.9 points, although his attempt at 196kg, which could have set a new record, was unsuccessful.

In the men's lightweight category, Ashok finished fourth, while Paramjeet Kumar secured seventh place. In the women's events, Jaspreet Kaur and Suman Devi placed sixth and seventh, respectively, while Kasthuri Rajamani was unable to register a valid lift.