The current Common Wealth Games 2018, ongoing at Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia have been the reason for much sporting cheer for India. Indian athletes from various disciplines have brought laurels to the country. The event scheduled from 4th to 15th April still has a few days to go. Here is what Indian athletes have achieved so far:
India is currently at number three on the medal tally, behind hosts Australia (133 medals), followed by England (75 medals). India currently has 23 medals in all; with 12 gold medals, 4 silvers and 7 bronzes.
Indian weight lifters have done exceptionally well by winning in the women's 48 kg (Saikhom Mirabai Chanu), 53 kg (Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu) and 69 kg (Punam Yadav) events as well as the men's 77 kg (Sathish Sivalingam) and 85 kg (Ragala Venkat Rahul) events. Indian weight lifters also bagged two silver and two bronze medals brining the weightlifting medal tally to an impressive total of 9 medals in all.
India also won four gold medals in the women's 10 mt air pistol (Manu Bhaker), and men's 10 mt air pistol (Jitu Rai) events. Heena Sidhu also won gold in the women’s 25 mt pistol and Shreyasi Singh won gold in the women's double trap events. Indian shooters also won two silver and four bronze medals.
The Indian women's table tennis team, with Manika Batra, Mouma Das, Sutirtha Mukherjee, Madhurika Patkar and Pooja Sahasrabudhe – won the gold medal. The men's team - Sharath Achanta, Anthony Amalraj, Harmeet Desai, Sanil Shetty and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran – won gold as well.
Ever since table tennis was introduced at the commonwealth games in 2002, Singapore had dominated and won every women's gold since. For the Indian women to break that unbeaten record made the victory all the more special.
The five day badminton event culminated in a team gold medal for India; the first time India won this medal, underlining India’s premier position in the sport. The badminton team comprising Pranav Chopra, Prannoy Kumar, Saina Nehwal, Ashwini Ponnappa, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Sikki Reddy, Chirag Shetty, Gadde Ruthvika Shivani, P V Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth won a historic win that was lost at the 2010 games when India was the host nation.
This event is open to para athletes only and here, India managed one bronze medal. Sachin Chaudhary won the men's heavyweight powerlifting event. This was India's first medal in para sports.
India is assured of more medals from Boxing. With Mary Kom entering the final, there is at least a silver to be won there; and overall the possibility of 5 boxing medals. Track and field athletics also hold out hope; the final results will become known in the next few days.
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