India seeks medals as Commonwealth Games enter second half

India enters a crucial phase of competition at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with a packed schedule of medal opportunities across athletics, boxing, weightlifting, and swimming on Wednesday, July 29. The nation's campaign continues after a day marked by both historic achievement and painful adversity.

On Tuesday, July 28, Indian hurdler Tejas Shirse made a courageous but heartbreaking appearance in the men's 110m hurdles final. The 24-year-old national record holder had earlier become the first Indian to qualify for the event's final in 60 years, finishing his heat in 13.76 seconds. However, during his warm-up for the final, Shirse sustained a navicular stress fracture in his left foot. He chose to compete with his foot heavily taped, finishing last in the eight-man field in 15.39 seconds while visibly grimacing in pain. Shirse later explained he did not want to withdraw after making history for his country, stating the pain became unbearable after the first hurdle but adrenaline carried him to the finish line. He indicated the injury was a recurrence of a previous issue and would require scans.

The day also saw other results for India. Sprinter Gurindervir Singh, a...