The people of Glasgow were warm and welcoming, displaying immense hospitality towards visitors who landed for the Commonwealth Games here.

On the roads leading to the stadiums and inside the venues, the volunteers were a shining example of kindness, respect and helpfulness. They went out of their way to make everyone feel at home. True to its official slogan, ‘People Make Glasgow’, the city once again showed it’s the people who make the Games special.

For many Indian athletes, the cold weather did pose a challenge and affected their performances to some extent. But they refused to use the conditions as an excuse, instead using it as an opportunity to learn and compete with dignity and pride.

India’s tally of 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze was one of its best returns in the quadrennial event. It reflected the steady growth of Indian sportspersons on the Commonwealth stage and their ability to adapt to different conditions. Though it would not be fair to compare the previous editions as Glasgow was a scaled-down Games featuring only 10 sports.

Boxing’s contribution to India’s overall medal tally was significant and impossible to overlook. It was easily the the country’s best-ever showing in the sport in the Games history, with a haul of 10 medals, including seven gold and three silver.

The boxing arena at the Scottish Event Campus here was transformed into a sea of Indian supporters with the fans cheering at the top of their voice throughout the competition, backing the pugilists to the hilt. The competition witnessed fierce contests, with England, Canada and Northern Ireland fielding some of their top boxers.

However, weightlifting was somewhat of a disappointment for India. Head coach Vijay Sharma had expected a medal haul of “around 10”, but the team could not touch double digits and finished with eight medals — one gold, six silver and a bronze.

Bindyarani Devi, who had won a silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in women’s 55kg, was expected to improve on that, but she ended up with a bronze in 58kg.

After a sensational effort at the Nationals where he shattered the record, Much was expected from Raja Muthupandi in the men’s 65kg category. However, he fell short, finishing second despite a spirited effort. Mirabai Chanu continued to win hearts with her exploits. The humble Indian weightlifting star claimed her third successive Games gold medal, adding another glorious chapter to a remarkable career and cementing her status as a Commonwealth legend.

Gulveer Singh was the standout performer for India in athletics. The 28-year-old achieved a rare feat by winning two medals in a single Games. His historic silver in the men’s 10000m and bronze in the 5000m, achieved in a strong field featuring several Kenyans and world-class competitors, highlighted his ability to take on elite opposition and deliver.

The Indian athletics contingent also improved on its 2022 Birmingham Games tally, winning 10 medals — five silver and as many bronze — even though a gold remained elusive.

The historic gold medals in judo by Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh enhanced India’s impressive overall campaignin the Scottish capital. Para sports also made a huge contribution to India’s kitty as the gutsy athletes scripted history with a record seven medalsfor the country.

Like every edition, Glasgow brought its share of triumphs and setbacks, moments of joy and lessons to be learnt for the Indian sportspersons.

Published - August 02, 2026 10:59 pm IST