From seven boxing gold medals to Gulveer Singh’s historic double, India enjoyed one of its greatest days at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Anjana Sasi reports from Glasgow on the emotion, atmosphere and the unforgettable moments when the Indian national anthem kept playing.
GLASGOW: There are days at a multi-sport Games when medals tell only part of the story. Saturday in Glasgow was one of them.
Twenty-four hours after Indian judokas rewrote history on the neighbouring tatami, another venue at the Scottish Event Campus came alive. This time, it was the boxing arena. The gloves replaced the judogis, but the celebrations remained the same. One Indian boxer after another climbed onto the podium, and every few minutes, the familiar strains of Jana Gana Mana filled the arena.
Standing in the mixed zone, I realised I had almost stopped counting how many times the Indian national anthem had been played. Volunteers preparing the podium smiled knowingly whenever another Indian victory was confirmed. Fans wrapped in the tricolour waited with anticipation before each medal ceremony, quietly hoping the anthem would return.
More often than not, it did.
If Friday belonged to Indian judo, Saturday unquestionably belonged to Indian boxing.
Photo: Anjana Sasi / TheNews21
Preeti Set the Tone
The first major celebration of the day belonged to Preeti Pawar. The young boxer walked into the women’s 54kg final with remarkable composure. There was no sign of nerves, only clarity of purpose. She boxed with controlled aggression, sharp combinations and intelligent footwork, refusing to let her opponent settle into the contest.
When the referee raised her hand, India had its first boxing gold of the day.
The anthem played.
It would become a familiar sound.
One Champion Inspired Another
Sport often has a ripple effect. One victory lifts the next athlete, who in turn inspires another. That is exactly what unfolded inside the boxing arena.
Sakshi Chaudhary followed with a tactically disciplined performance to win gold in the women’s 51kg category. She never chased the bout recklessly. Instead, she relied on timing, sharp defence and accurate counter-attacks.
Jaismine Lamboria looked every bit the champion in the women’s 57kg final. Tall, composed and technically assured, she used her reach beautifully, controlled the distance and dictated the pace from start to finish.
The celebrations continued with Priya Ghanghas, Arundhati Choudhary, Ankush and Sachin Siwach, each producing performances that reflected the remarkable depth Indian boxing has developed over the years.
By the evening session, the atmosphere inside the arena had changed. Every time officials began preparing the podium, Indian supporters instinctively reached for their phones, ready to capture another special moment.
Photo: Anjana Sasi / TheNews21
Another Indian boxer.
Another gold medal.
Another rendition of the national anthem.
Lovlina’s Silver Carries Its Own Story
Not every champion leaves with gold.
Among the day’s most emotional moments was Lovlina Borgohain’s 75kg final. Having looked dominant throughout the tournament, the Olympic medallist entered the ring carrying enormous expectations. She boxed with intelligence and composure but was edged by Australia’s Emma-Sue Greentree in a closely fought contest, settling for silver.
The disappointment on her face was unmistakable. For athletes who constantly challenge themselves to be the very best, silver can feel painfully close to gold.
Yet Lovlina’s campaign deserves to be remembered for more than the colour of her medal. Once again, she proved why she remains one of India’s most reliable performers on the biggest stages, adding another international medal to an already distinguished career.
Narender and Jadumany also secured silver medals, completing a remarkable overall campaign for the Indian boxing team.
India’s boxing contingent eventually finished with its best-ever Commonwealth Games performance—seven gold medals and three silver medals from ten finalists.
That statistic says everything about how far Indian boxing has come.
Photo: Anjana Sasi / TheNews21
A New Generation of Indian Boxing
Watching the finals from ringside, one aspect stood out clearly.
Indian boxers are winning differently now.
Their victories are no longer built purely on courage or relentless aggression. They are being built on tactical intelligence.
The footwork is more refined. The defence is more disciplined. The ability to manage distance and control the rhythm of a bout has improved dramatically.
Several finals were won not by chasing knockout punches but by patiently accumulating scoring blows while denying opponents any momentum.
It is the mark of a mature boxing programme.
India is no longer producing isolated champions.
It is producing a generation.
Gulveer’s Historic Double
While boxing dominated the headlines, another quiet piece of history unfolded at Scotstoun Stadium.
Gulveer Singh fought his way to bronze in the men’s 5,000 metres, adding it to the medal he had already won earlier in the Games.
In doing so, he became the first Indian athlete to win two distance-running medals at a single Commonwealth Games.
Distance running has never traditionally been India’s strongest discipline. Yet Gulveer showed remarkable patience, staying with the leading pack before producing a determined finish when the race entered its decisive stages.
His two medals may not have generated the same headlines as the boxing golds, but they represent a significant shift for Indian athletics. They suggest that India is beginning to challenge in disciplines once considered beyond its reach.
The Momentum Began a Day Earlier
Saturday’s celebrations were not created in isolation.
The confidence sweeping through the Indian contingent had begun on Friday, when Asmita Dey became India’s first Commonwealth Games judo champion, Harsh Singh added another gold, Yamini Mourya secured silver and Unnati Sharma claimed bronze.
Those victories transformed the atmosphere within the team. Athletes from different sports congratulated one another. Coaches celebrated performances beyond their own disciplines.
Success became infectious.
By Saturday, that belief was visible everywhere.
Photo: Anjana Sasi / TheNews21
A Team Growing Beyond Expectations
India’s rise in Glasgow is about much more than medals.
It is about diversity.
Boxing has delivered historic success.
Judo has found new heroes.
Athletics continues to produce moments that once seemed improbable.
This is no longer a contingent relying on one or two traditional strengths.
It is becoming a team capable of challenging across multiple sports.
As I left the boxing arena, the final notes of Jana Gana Mana were fading into the Glasgow evening. The volunteers were already preparing the podium for yet another medal ceremony. Around me, Indian supporters exchanged smiles. The anthem had become so familiar that nobody seemed surprised when it played again.
Sometimes a Games is remembered for a single record or one unforgettable performance.
For India, Saturday will be remembered for something different.
It will be remembered as the day an arena, thousands of kilometres from home, kept standing for the Indian national anthem.
