Commonwealth Games 2022

"We have won the medal after 12 years of hard work. On occasions, we had missed the medal by one bowl, in the quarterfinal, or the semifinal. But this year we proved it and we are on the podium, but we would like to convert into the gold and we will try our level best to create history on history," Anju Luthra said on Monday.

Electing to bowl first, Australia never allowed Barbados to ever get going in their batting innings. Openers Hayley Matthews made a 13-ball 18 while Deandra Dottin made just eight runs in 22 balls as Australia didn't give her room to hit her shots. But the duo were dismissed within power-play as Barbados reached 37/2.

India's bowlers, led by off-spinner Sneh Rana (2/15) and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav (2/18), put out an impressive show to set the base for a comprehensive eight-wicket win over the arch-rivals in their second Group A game at Edgbaston on Sunday.

After a strong showing against Ghana (5-0), India swatted aside the challenge from Wales 3-1 and will be looking forward to their tough encounter against the hosts. The English women too were equally menacing against Ghana winning the opener 12-0, before defeating Canada 1-0 in the second game. The hosts will go into the match against India as Pool A leaders, as they have a better goal difference.

Congratulating Sheuli, President Droupadi Murmu tweeted, "Achinta Sheuli has made India proud by winning gold and making the tricolor fly high at the Commonwealth Games. You immediately overcame the failure in one attempt and topped the lineup. You are the champion who has created a history. Heartiest congratulations."

There was more success for India in the little-known sport as the men's pairs as Sunil Bahadur and Deepak Kumar reached the quarterfinals before bowing out to a strong Northern Ireland team in a late match. But the day belonged to the Women's Fours as they reached the semifinals.

Drag flicker Harmanpreet Singh struck three goals (10', 25' and 53'), Jugraj Singh struck a brace (22' and 43') while Abhishek (2'), Shamsher Singh (14'), Akashdeep Singh (20'), Nilakanta Sharma (38'), Varun Kumar (39') and Mandeep Singh (48') scored a goal apiece as India romped to a big win in their Pool B encounter. India scored three goals in the first quarter and two in the second as they raced to a 5-0 lead at half-time. They added four goals in a productive third quarter before sealing the win with two more goals in the fourth and final quarter.

Achinta Sheuli lifted 143kg in snatch and 170kg in clean and jerk to top the field ahead of Malaysia's Erry Hidayat Muhammad, who took silver with a total of 303kg, while Canada's S. Darsigny claimed bronze with a total of 298kg. Sheuli's gold is India's third in the 2022 Commonwealth Games here and the sixth medal in total, all coming in weightlifting.

Nikhat got the outplayed Helena Ismael Bagao of Mozambique in a women's light flyweight (over 48-50kg) division, getting a Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) verdict, two minutes and two seconds into the third round of their bout. Nikhat was so dominant that she knocked down her opponent once in the third round before the referee decided enough was enough and ended the misery for the Mozambique boxer by calling off the contest.

After bowling out Pakistan for just 99 in an 18-overs a side affair due to rain, opener Smriti Mandhana slammed an unbeaten 63 and played magnificent shots which oozed class and delight in equal measure to chase down the total with 38 balls remaining. The eight-wicket thrashing of Pakistan, after a three-wicket defeat to Australia in the opening match, means that India keeps their semi-final hopes alive and are on top of the table with their net run rate jumping from-0.56 to 1.17.