Pistol shooter Heena Sidhu shone the brightest with a gold and a Games record, while para-powerlifter Sachin Chaudhary put behind a dope-tainted past to claim a surprise bronze as the Indian juggernaut slowed down a bit after five days of gold rush at the Commonwealth Games.
With weightlifters through with their campaign, wrestlers yet to take off and boxers only getting into medal rounds, the number of medal were not too many to show on day six of the Games.
However, India held on to their third spot in the overall tally, behind hosts Australia and England. The Indian contingent has so far won 11 gold, four silver and six bronze medals.
also read
- Commonwealth Games 2026 Glasgow: Why removal of wrestling, shooting, badminton and hockey will hurt India
- Canadian province Alberta withdraws support of 2030 Commonwealth Games bid
- Colonial roots, cost concerns, no host: Future of Commonwealth Games in limbo
- Why Australia's Victoria withdrew as 2026 Commonwealth Games host
The ranges at Belmont Shooting Centre in Brisbane were expecting to boom with strong Indian performances but it wasn't a particularly great start as Gagan Narang and Chain Singh finished outside the medal bracket in the 50m rifle prone event.
However, Sidhu made up for it to an extent by shooting down the gold as well as the Games record in the women's 25m pistol event.
"I am exhausted, those are my thoughts on today's performance," Sidhu quipped.
"Thankfully, my trigger finger which has been giving me some trouble because of a tingling sensation was alright today, she added referring to a nerve problem she has been battling for the last few months.
At the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre, Chaudhary gave India their only other medal of the day in para powerlifting with an effort of 181kg in the men's heavyweight final.
The medal was redemption of sorts for Chaudhary, who was banned for two years after failing a dope test in 2014. He had tested positive for the anabolic steroid methandienone and testosterone abuse in June that year.
Gold medallist Abdulazeez Ibrahim of Nigeria (centre) with silver medallist Yee Khie Jong of Malaysia (left) and Chaudhary
It was a brilliant day for the boxers at the Oxenford Studios, where all five in action assured themselves of medals by advancing to the semifinals. Among them was veteran Manoj Kumar (69kg), a gold-medallist from the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Joining him were a bunch of debutants—Amit Panghal (49kg), Mohammed Hussamuddin (56kg), 19-year-old Naman Tanwar (91kg) and former Asian Games bronze-medallist Satish Kumar (+91kg).
The boxers have so far guaranteed themselves six medals in all as, among the women, M.C. Mary Kom (48kg) is also through to the semifinals.
There were some strong performances in the track and field events as well with reigning Asian champion Muhammad Anas Yahiya improving his personal best and breaking the national record for a third time to finish a creditable fourth in the men's 400m final.
"I am proud of myself," declared a panting Anas after clocking a new personal best of 45.31sec, improving his previous by 0.01 second.
Javon Francis delivered a season best with a timing of 45.11 seconds to win the bronze. The gold medal went to Botswana's Isaac Makwala, who completed the race in 44.35, while a 45.09 effort fetched compatriot Baboloki Thebe a silver medal.
In the women's 400m women's semifinals, the 18-year-old Hima qualified for the final with a personal best of 51.53 seconds.
She had finished third in her semifinal, taking off 0.44 seconds off her previous personal best, but eventually made the cut as the seventh fastest among eight finalists.
Medal hopes will once again hinge on shooters tomorrow when Jitu Rai takes aim in the 50m pistol event, having already claimed the 10m gold.
Boxing star Mary Kom would be aiming to enter the finals, while star shuttler Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu will begin their quest for individual medals after the mixed team gold.