Looking back at a strong Commonwealth showing by India
The 20th Commonwealth Games gave India an opportunity to make great strides and break longstanding ruts in an array of competitions this year. Highlights included silver medals in both men’s hockey and women’s doubles badminton topped by the termination of a decades-long dry spell in men’s badminton.
Breaking a 32-year jinx in men’s single badminton, Parupalli Kashyap secured a gold medal for India, while Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa paired off in women’s doubles badminton and brought home a silver. Both adding to the sum total that ranked India fifth.
The Games, which took place this year in Glasgow, ceased ceremoniously this past Sunday. Many bets were placed on these events, taken on online betting sites, where people can even find quick bet golf game to put money on.
India climbed ranks to land in fifth place overall amongst participating nations by winning a total of 64 medals. The breakdown by medals included 15 gold, 30 silver and 19 bronze, putting India just after England, Australia, Canada and host country Scotland.
Unfortunately, some of the spotlight was unfairly redirected due to two of the team’s senior sports officials. They were separately charged for drunken driving and sexual assault, tainting the nation’s glorious presence abroad. The charges, made early in the Games, was amplified by the removal of a para-powerlifter, who failed a drug test earlier in June. The test was not part of the competition.
The most-searched Indian sports figure was medallist Sushil Kumar, who has won two Olympic medals. He secured one of five possible gold medals in wrestling.
Women athletes of India made an especially strong showing bringing in 27 of the 64 medal treasure chest, with five of the 15 golds being female earned. Stereotypes of yesteryear were broken in areas regarded traditionally for men: weightlifting, boxing and wrestling.
Sanjita Khumukcham won India’s first medal of the Games by snagging the gold in 48kg wrestling. Pinki Jangra brought home a bronze and Sarita Devi won silver in women’s boxing. Vinesh Phogat and Babita Kumary clinched gold in wrestling.
This marked India’s third best showing in Commonwealth Games history. Top winnings for India included 101 in Delhi in 2010, followed by 69 snatched in Manchester in 2002.