India’s Putul Sonowal experienced his first loss in the men’s singles lawn bowls event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. He was defeated 8-4, 9-8 by Malaysia’s Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple in a crucial Section D match. This defeat marked the end of Sonowal’s unbeaten run in Glasgow and posed a challenge to his chances of advancing to the semifinals.
Malaysia’s Dzulkeple solidified his lead in Section D with three victories out of three matches. He currently tops the standings with nine game points and a significant +18 shot difference. In contrast, Sonowal occupies the second spot with six game points and a -8 shot difference.
The Malaysian player took an early lead in the match, maintaining control throughout the game. Sonowal made efforts to narrow the gap during the first set but ultimately lost 8-4. In the second set, Sonowal needed a win to force a tie-break but fell behind early. Despite a late surge, he couldn’t overtake Dzulkeple, who secured the set 9-8 and claimed victory in straight sets.
Sonowal now faces the challenge of securing convincing wins in his remaining Section D matches to stay in contention for the semifinals. His path to the knockout stage has become more complex, requiring both victories on his part and potential stumbles from Dzulkeple.
