World Cup gold medallist rower Lakshay suspended for doping

In yet another setback, one half of the lightweight men’s double sculls team that won a historic World Cup medal in rowing has been provisionally suspended for doping.

Army man Lakshay has been suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after his sample showed presence of stanozolol, an anabolic steroid. Lakshay and Ujjwal Kumar Singh won India’s first ever gold medal at the World Rowing Cup III in Switzerland last month. sport-tr.bet

The duo was a big medal prospect for the 2026 Asian Games scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19.

Lakshay has been issued with a notice for an out-of-competition test of a sample taken in Pune on May 25. If the charges stick, Lakshay is looking at a four-year suspension. Further, all results from the date of the sample collection will be disqualified, including the gold medal.

“It is hereby informed to you that your Sample A was tested at the WADA accredited laboratory National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), New Delhi in accordance with the procedures set out in WADA’s international standard for laboratories and was returned with an adverse analytical finding (AAF),” the notice, a copy of which is with The Tribune, stated.

“In accordance with article 7.4.1 of the NADR 2021, you are hereby provisionally suspended with immediate effect and until the resolution of the case,” the notice added.

Glasgow [Scotland], July 25 (ANI): India’s Jadumani Singh Mandengbam cruised into the pre-quarterfinals of the men’s 55kg boxing competition at the Commonwealth Games 2026 with a commanding unanimous-decision victory over Scotland’s Aaron Cullen on Friday, setting up a clash against Pakistan’s Sumama Rehman.

Competing in front of a partisan home crowd backing Cullen at the SEC, the 22-year-old Indian remained unfazed and dominated throughout the bout. Jadumani earned perfect 10s from all five judges in the opening round and repeated the feat in the second before sealing a comprehensive 5-0 unanimous decision, according to Olympics.com.

The victory booked him a pre-quarterfinal meeting with Pakistan’s Sumama Rehman on Sunday evening. Rehman advanced directly to the last 16 after receiving a bye in the preliminary round, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake in the contest.

Jadumani, who claimed a silver medal in the 50kg category at the World Boxing Cup Finals in Noida last year, has moved up to the 55kg division this season. He was also the first Indian boxer to enter the ring at the Glasgow Games.

India have fielded a 14-member boxing contingent at the Commonwealth Games, comprising seven men and seven women.

Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain has already secured at least a bronze medal after receiving a bye into the semi-finals. In Commonwealth Games boxing, both losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals.

India’s campaign will continue on Saturday when Sachin Siwach faces Canada’s Al-Ahmadieh Keoma in the men’s 60kg round of 32.

Bowls will be back in focus on Saturday with last time’s Fours champions Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki in action, along with Putul Sonowal. The Artistic Gymnastics team of Pranati Nayak, Nishka Agarwal, Eshita Rewale, Protistha Samanta will hope to make their mark after the men’s team failed to do so on the opening day.

India won their first medal of the Commonwealth Games 2026 on Friday (local time) when para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar won a bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight category. (ANI)

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Glasgow [Scotland], July 25 (ANI): India opened its medal tally at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after Jhandu Kumar won bronze in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting final in Glasgow early Saturday (IST).

Jhandu secured the podium finish with a best successful lift of 190kg, earning 130.9 points. He began strongly by lifting 181kg in his first attempt for 124.7 points before improving his mark to 190kg in the second lift, which briefly moved him to the top of the standings.

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In his final attempt, Jhandu went for 196kg, which would have broken the Commonwealth Games meet record set at Birmingham 2022. However, he could not complete the lift and eventually finished with the bronze medal.

Earlier, India’s lightweight para powerlifters missed out on medals. Ashok finished fourth in the men’s final with a personal-best 200kg lift, scoring 143.8 points, while Paramjeet Kumar took seventh with 176kg and 135.6 points.

In the women’s lightweight category, Jaspreet Kaur placed sixth after lifting 100kg for 96.4 points, while Suman Devi finished seventh with a best lift of 100kg and 88.4 points.

Kasthuri Rajamani, meanwhile, failed to record a valid lift in the women’s heavyweight final after all three of her attempts were unsuccessful.

Jhandu’s bronze marked India’s first medal in para powerlifting at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], July 25 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar after the Indian athlete clinched the country’s first medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026, winning bronze in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting event in Glasgow.

Sharing a picture of Jhandu on X, the Prime Minister hailed the para powerlifter’s achievement and praised his perseverance.

“A spectacular performance by Jhandu Kumar, who has opened India’s medal tally at the #CWG2026 by winning a Bronze in the Men’s Heavyweight Para Powerlifting event! Congratulations to him. His achievement is a powerful reflection of immense strength, unwavering determination and years of disciplined effort. By overcoming every challenge and excelling on the international stage, he has made the entire nation proud and inspired countless Indians," he wrote.

Jhandu secured the bronze medal with a best successful lift of 190kg, earning 130.9 points to open India’s medal account at the Glasgow Games.

The Indian began his campaign with a lift of 181kg, scoring 124.7 points, before improving to 190kg in his second attempt, which briefly put him at the top of the standings.

With the gold medal still within reach, Jhandu attempted 196kg in his final lift, a weight that would have eclipsed the Commonwealth Games record set at Birmingham 2022. However, he was unable to complete the lift and eventually finished third to claim the bronze.

The medal also marked India’s first podium finish in para powerlifting at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Earlier in the competition, Ashok narrowly missed out on a medal after finishing fourth in the men’s lightweight final with a personal-best lift of 200kg, scoring 143.8 points. Paramjeet Kumar placed seventh in the same event with a best lift of 176kg.

In the women’s lightweight competition, Jaspreet Kaur finished sixth after lifting 100kg, while Suman Devi ended seventh with the same successful lift. Kasthuri Rajamani, competing in the women’s heavyweight category, failed to register a valid lift after all three of her attempts were unsuccessful. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)