India’s Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh faced their first loss in the Commonwealth Games 2026 women’s pairs lawn bowls event against Namibia’s Amanda Steenkamp and Diana Viljoen. Despite initially leading, the Indian duo lost the opening set but managed to force a tiebreak, ultimately falling 3-0 in the decider. However, India’s chances for qualification remain alive as England also lost their tiebreak to South Africa.
India started strong, securing a 5-0 lead by the second end, with Rupa and Pinki showcasing excellent gameplay. Namibia staged a comeback in the third end, narrowing the gap to 5-2. The momentum shifted further in Namibia’s favor in the subsequent ends, leading to a remarkable turnaround as they claimed the opening set 7-5.
In the second set, India bounced back with a commanding performance, racing to a 10-1 victory to force a tiebreak. Despite a tense final showdown, Namibia emerged victorious with a 3-0 win, ending India’s unbeaten streak. Nevertheless, India remains in contention for a spot in the knockout stage, setting up a crucial clash against England for qualification.
