Commonwealth Games: India’s Putul Sonowal stuns 2023 world champion Ryan Bester

India’s grass-court campaign at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games got off to a flying start on Thursday as Putul Sonowal produced a stunning upset against 2023 world champion Ryan Bester of Canada in the men’s singles.

Making his Commonwealth Games debut, Sonowal won the opening set 5-4 before Bester, a multiple Commonwealth Games medallist, fought back with an impressive 7-3 victory in the second set to force a tiebreak.

The reigning Asian champions from Assam held their nerve in the decider to complete a memorable win in their Section D opener. He will face Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands in his second match on Friday.

The win is among the biggest of Sonowal’s career, given Bester’s achievements in the sport. The Canadian won bronze in men’s singles at the 2006 Commonwealth Games before adding silver medals in 2014 and 2018. He also won seven medals at the World Outdoor Championships in singles and pairs, including gold and bronze at the 2023 edition. He was inducted into the inaugural World Bowls Hall of Fame in 2025.

India also got off to a winning start in the women’s doubles, with Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh defeated Malta in another tie-break.

The Indian pair of Tirkey (lead) and Pinki (skip) dominated the opening set 7-1 to take an early advantage in the Section B match at Hall 3 of the Scottish Event Campus (SEC).

Malta’s Rebecca Louise Rixon (lead) and Connie-Leigh Rixon (skip) responded with a 4-3 edge in the second set to level the match and force a tie-break.

The Indians found themselves under pressure in the decider before Pinki produced an excellent final bowl to secure victory.

On the field, the skip is the captain of the team and usually the most experienced player. The skip decides the team’s tactics and brings the last two bowls of the end. The lead is the first player to pitch, place the pad and try to end up as close to the jack as possible before taking the jump.

Tirkey and Pinki will face South Africa in their second Section B match on Friday.

The pair were part of India’s historic women’s fours team that won the first ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in bowling in Birmingham 2022. However, the men’s and women’s foursomes have been dropped from the Glasgow programme, with only men’s and women’s singles and pairs competitions being held.

India also won silver in the men’s four at the Birmingham Games, making bowls one of the country’s standout sports at the last edition.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

23 Jul 2026 20:24 IST