By Elton Gomes
As the 2018 Commonwealth Games draws to a close, India has amassed more than 50 medal across all the competitions of the games. Boxer Mary Kom won a gold medalthe first Indian woman boxer to do so. Kom struck gold at her debut in the games, which also might be her last.
Magnificent Mary!
Congratulations to @MangteC who is India’s 1st woman boxer to clinch a 🏅in the 45-48 kg #GC2018Boxing in her 1st CWG appearance.
Already a 5 times World Champion and Olympic 🥉medallist
More power to you @Mangtec you’re India’s pride 🇮🇳✌#MaryKom pic.twitter.com/3RJVWsJuc6 Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) April 14, 2018
Indian boxers were in the limelight after winning several medals. Boxers Amit Panghal and Manish Kaushik won silver medals in the 49 kg and 60 kg men’s boxing categories. In the 91 kg finals, India’s Satish Kumar defeated England’s Frazer Clarke to win silver. Meanwhile, Gaurav Solanki won gold in the men’s 52 kg boxing. An aggressive Solanki defeated Northern Ireland’s Brendan Irvine, and won 4-1 on account of a split decision.
Gaurav Solanki after winning gold at the Commonwealth Games 2018. Credit: Twitter/@CoEvolveGroup
Vikas Krishnan was the third Indian boxer to win gold. Krishnan defeated Cameroon’s Wilfried Dieudonne 5-0 in the men’s 75 kg category.
Manika Batra and Neeraj Chopra create history
With a season’s best attempt of 86.47 metres in the final, Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian javelin thrower to win a gold medal at the games.
A throw that yielded Gold ! 🎉
Another young Indian athlete covers himself with glory! @Neeraj_chopra1 becomes first Indian ever to win🥇in Javelin throw at #CWG with 86.47 m. Young players like him are proof that 🇮🇳 has a bright future in sports 👍 pic.twitter.com/ezKX6V7w4E
Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) April 14, 2018
Chopra’s first attempt hit the mark of 85.50 metres. Although he fell slightly short of the target in his second attempt at 84.78, his third effort was his record best, at 86.47 metres. The 20-year old athlete, a farmers son from Panipat, received a standing ovation from the crowd.
In more firsts for India, Manika Batra became the first Indian woman to win gold in the table tennis final. Batra defeated Singapore’s Yu Mengyu 4-0.
Manika scripts HISTORY 🎉
Manika Batra is pure magic at the TT Table. Standing ovation for this supremely talented girl who became India’s 1st woman to win a 🥇 in a women’s singles TT event. This is also her 3rd medal in #GC2018 so far. Such a scintillating performance! pic.twitter.com/DkuT4UdMZu
Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) April 14, 2018
Batras fantastic run at the games continued as she defeated Mengyu 11-7, 11-6, 11-2, and 11-7 in what was deemed to be a one-sided final.
This is my first individual medal in this big tournament and I am feeling really proud, Batra told PTI.
Shooters, wrestlers, and table tennis players win big for India
In the men’s 50 metre rifle competition, Sanjeev Rajput won gold after accumulating a total score of 454.5. The other Indian shooter, Chain Singh, finished fifth after a score of 419.1.
In table tennis, the Indian pair of Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Sharath Kamal finished second after losing to England’s Paul Drinkhall and Liam Pitchford in the men’s doubles gold medal match.
Sanil Shetty and Harmeet Desai won bronze after they defeated Singapore’s Pang Yewn En Koen and Poh Shao Feng Ethan in table tennis doubles.
Meanwhile, Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy won a bronze medal in badminton womens doubles. Ponnappa and Reddy defeated Australians Setyana Mapasa and Gronya Somerville. The match reportedly went on for 47 minutes and was evenly contested. However, the Indian pair of Ponnappa and Reddy proved their mettle when playing against the Australians.
Vinesh Phogat defeated Canada’s Jessica Macdonald to win the gold in the 50 kg freestyle. As Nigerias Sinivie Boltic was ruled out of the final due to injury, Sumit Malik won the gold in the 125 kg category.
Vinesh Phogat’s added another gold to India’s tally. Credit: Twitter/@Ra_THOReSakshi Malik finished third in the 62 kg category, and Somveer added another medal to India’s tally after wining bronze in the 86 kg category.
CWG’s host Australia is still on top of the medal tally, with 74 golds and 186 medals in total. England, in second place, have a total of 123 medals. India remains number three on the table with 25 golds and 59 medals overall.
The games draw to a close
India will look to wrap up a largely successful campaign by aiming for more gold on Sunday. In the women’s singles gold medal match, badminton enthusiasts are up for a treat as P.V. Sindhu takes on Saina Nehwal.
Kidambi Srikanth will also feature in the men’s singles. Duo Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will be in action in the men’s doubles final. Meanwhile, Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal will aim for gold when they play the womens doubles gold medal match.