The 21st edition of Commonwealth Games 2018 has come to an end on a satisfactory note for India. In the medal tally, India is at the third spot just behind England.
The CWG 2018 tally is third all-time best for India with 66 medals (26 gold, 20 silver and 20 bronze). India was most successful in CWG 2010 (Delhi) where 101 medals were won and at Manchester 2002 (69).
Highlights of India’s performance at the Gold Coast:
– Star Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won first gold for India and in the process broke six records in six lifts.
– Manika Batra wrote history by winning first ever gold medal for India in the women’s singles table tennis. Overall, Manika won four medals for India at the Gold Coast.
– Former World Number one Saina Nehwal won the gold medal in the women’s badminton singles event, thus becoming the first female Indian shuttler to win two individual badminton gold medals. Nehwal had won her first gold in CWG 2010 in Delhi.
– Shooting sensation Anish Bhanwala became the youngest Indian player to win a gold medal in the CWG with a Games record score of 30. Anish is just 15-year-old.
– Star Indian player MC Mary Kom, who is also the five-time world champion and an Olympics bronze medallist, won her first CWG medal by claiming gold in the women’s 45-48kg boxing event. Mary Kom is 35.
– 16-year-old teenage Manu Bhaker won the gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event. Manu also shot a qualifying CWG record score of 388/400 in her first appearance in CWG.
– In the javelin, Neeraj Chopra made his stylish debut with a golden throw of 86.47mt.
– Indian shooters Tejaswini Sawant and Heena Sidhu won two gold and two silver medals for India. Sawant won the gold medal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 prone, silver in the 50m rifle prone; and Sidhu won the gold in the women’s 25m pistol, silver in the 10m air pistol.
– Bajrang Punia won the gold medal in the men’s freestyle 64kg wrestling by defeating Kane Charig of Wales.
– Star Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar won his third consecutive CWG gold in men’s freestyle 74kg category.
– Overall in table tennis, India won eight medals, most in the sport at any CWG.
– In Badminton, Indian shuttlers won six medals. Two gold, two silver and two bronze.