Putul Sonowal Extends Winning Run, Keeps India’s Lawn Bowls Campaign on Track at Glasgow CWG

Glasgow, July 2026 : India’s leading lawn bowls player, Putul Sonowal, continued his impressive run at the Commonwealth Games 2026 with another gritty victory in the men’s singles sectional competition, defeating Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands in a tense tie-break encounter on Friday.

The reigning Asian champion showcased remarkable composure and consistency to register his second consecutive victory in Section D, strengthening his chances of progressing further in the tournament. The contest remained evenly balanced throughout, with both players producing quality bowls before Sonowal eventually prevailed in the decisive tie-break.

Sonowal made a confident start by claiming the opening set 7-5 after a closely fought battle. His accurate deliveries and tactical play helped him edge ahead despite stiff resistance from Alexander. However, the Falkland Islands bowler responded strongly in the second set, winning 8-6 to level the match and force a tie-break.

With the contest hanging in the balance, Sonowal kept his nerves under pressure and produced the decisive bowl to clinch the tie-break 1-0, sealing another valuable victory for India. The win keeps his unbeaten record intact in the competition and reinforces his growing reputation as one of Asia’s finest lawn bowls players.

Sonowal will now take on a Malaysian opponent in his next Section D fixture on Saturday, where another victory could significantly boost his chances of advancing to the knockout stages.

The Indian star has enjoyed a dream start to his Commonwealth Games debut. On Thursday, he produced one of the biggest upsets of the competition by defeating Canada’s Ryan Bester, one of the sport’s most decorated players and a reigning world champion.

In that opening match, Sonowal, currently ranked 21st in the world, narrowly won the first set 5-4 before Bester bounced back to claim the second set 7-3. The match eventually went into a tie-break, where the Indian delivered a superb opening bowl that landed closest to the kitty, proving decisive in securing a memorable victory.

Bester entered the contest with an outstanding international record. The Canadian is a two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist, having finished runner-up in Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018, while also winning bronze in Manchester 2006. He has also captured seven medals at the World Outdoor Championships, including gold and bronze medals in singles and pairs events during the 2023 edition.

Despite facing an opponent with vastly greater international experience, Sonowal displayed maturity beyond his years to pull off the upset, earning widespread praise for his calm temperament and precise execution under pressure.

India’s lawn bowls campaign has gathered encouraging momentum in Glasgow, with Sonowal emerging as one of the country’s standout performers in the early stages of the Games. His back-to-back victories against accomplished international opponents have boosted India’s prospects in the discipline and underlined the steady rise of Indian lawn bowls on the global stage.

With confidence growing after successive wins, Sonowal will now aim to maintain his unbeaten run when he returns to action on Saturday, hoping to move one step closer to a medal-winning finish at the Commonwealth Games.