India’s top lawn bowls player, Putul Sonowal, secured a hard-fought win over Cecil Alexander from the Falkland Islands in the Men’s Singles sectional play at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. Sonowal, the reigning Asian Champion, won the first set 7-5 but faced a tough challenge as Alexander claimed the second set 8-6, leading to a tie-breaker. Sonowal maintained his composure and emerged victorious by winning the tie-break 1-0.
Sonowal is set to compete against a Malaysian player in his upcoming Section D match on Saturday. Earlier, on his Commonwealth Games debut, Sonowal caused a major upset by defeating reigning World Champion Ryan Bester in men’s singles sectional play. The Indian athlete, ranked 21st globally, displayed a strong performance, clinching a close first set 5-4 against Bester, a two-time Commonwealth Games silver medalist.
Bester, known for his experience and past achievements, won the toss in the tiebreaker but Sonowal’s precise shot secured his triumph. Despite Bester’s impressive track record, including multiple medals in World Outdoor Championships, Sonowal’s skill and determination prevailed in the thrilling encounter.
