In the ongoing CWG 2022, India etched history by winning the first ever gold medal in lawn bowls, making it the country’s fourth gold medal for this years’ games. The fabulous quartet of Rupa Rani Tirkey, Lovely Choubey, Pinki and Nayanmoni Saikia defeated South Africa 17-10 to etch history and take home the gold.
The gold medal winning performance is all the more awe-inspiring when we take a look into the lives of these women. Unlike many sports professionals who don’t have a day job, these four women manage having a day job and their sporting aspirations.
42-year-old Lovely Choubey is a policewoman from Jharkhand, while Nayanmoni Saikia is a forest officer from Assam. Meanwhile, Pinki is a physical education teacher from the national capital. The team also comprises of Rupa Rani, a sports district officer.
The lawn bowls quartet had earlier stormed into the finals after defeating New Zealand 16-13. For a nation, that is yet to grow beyond cricket, the gold medal will likely spark a flame of enthusiasm among youths who may want to indulge in other sports.
The gold medal on Tuesday comes after youngster Jeremy Lalrinnunga clinched gold medal in the 67kg division. Earlier, Mirabai Chanu also brought the country a gold medal, containing on her rich vein of form gained during Tok Olympics 2020.
The Facts of the Matter
A policewoman, a forest officer, a physical education teacher, and a sports district officer. From the sound of it, these may just sound like common individuals, living common faceless lives. However, on August 2, these seemingly unassuming individuals made an entire nation of 1.39 billion people proud.
At the recently held Commonwealth Games 2022, India etched history by winning its first ever gold medal in Lawn Bowls, by defeating South Africa. With the medal winning performance, India now has 4 golds in its kit.
"Historic win in Birmingham! India is proud of Lovely Choubey, Pinki Singh, Nayanmoni Saikia & Rupa Rani Tirkey for bringing home prestigious Gold in Lawn Bowls. Team demonstrated great dexterity & their success will motivate many Indians towards Lawn Bowls," tweets PM#CWG2022 pic.twitter.com/5cSVKRroyy
— ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2022
Meet the Winning Quartet
The winning quartet comprised of Lovely Choubey, a policewoman, Nayanmoni Saikia, a forest officer, Pinki, a physical education teacher, and Rupa Rani, a sports district officer.
For the unversed lawn bowls or lawn bowling, is a sport where balls are bowled as close to smaller ball called kitty. The lawn bowls weigh somewhere around 3.3 lbs. The ball is called “biased ball” as it’s heavier on one end, enabling the player curl it.
The Final As It Happened
In the final, the Indian quartet never looked uncomfortable, and took the lead from the starting with a score of 3-2. It continued on its lead and put 8-6 score after the End 3. However, it wasn’t an out an out Indian game as the South African team did manage to fight back.
South Africa surpassed the lead and registered a lead of 10-8 when skip Rupa again struck and got a score of 10-10 on the board after End 12. Not letting the opponents take the lead away, Indian women continued striking at the right moment and took a comprehensive 15-10 lead.
In the end, it was skip Rupa Rani who delivered the final blow, and confirmed out gold medal with a 17-10 score.
PM Modi, President Murmu Congratulates Fab Four
After the gold medal winning performance, netizens flooded the internet with congratulatory messages for the lawn bowl team.
Heartiest congratulations to Women's team for winning Gold medal in Lawn Bowl:Womens Fours event at #CWG2022. This remarkable achievement by Lovely Choubey, Pinki, Nayanmoni Saikia & Rupa Rani Tirkey will inspire many youngsters to take up the sport. pic.twitter.com/PVBi5IT3vT
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) August 2, 2022
Hurray! Gold medal in Lawn Bowls & Para Lawn Bowls. Historic win for India Team beating South Africa. Congratulations Women's Lawn Bowl Team India and officials. #womenempowerment #CommonwealthGames22 pic.twitter.com/4cH9cevhxQ
— M C Mary Kom OLY (@MangteC) August 2, 2022
Historical achievement from our Womens Lawn Bowl Fours Team who have secured a silver medal at the least by making it into the finals. The first ever medal for 🇮🇳 in Lawn Bowls. Wishing them the best for their finals tomorrow! #EkIndiaTeamIndia pic.twitter.com/bIdH4zslpV
— Deepa Malik PLY (@DeepaAthlete) August 1, 2022
Historic win in Birmingham! India is proud of Lovely Choubey, Pinki Singh, Nayanmoni Saikia and Rupa Rani Tirkey for bringing home the prestigious Gold in Lawn Bowls. The team has demonstrated great dexterity and their success will motivate many Indians towards Lawn Bowls. pic.twitter.com/RvuoGqpQET
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 2, 2022
Bravo! Heartiest congratulations to #TeamIndia for winning a Gold Medal in Lawn Bowl at #CWG2022.
You all have made the nation proud with this momentous triumph.
My best wishes for your future endeavours. #Cheer4India🇮🇳 @birminghamcg22 pic.twitter.com/AHNBIpwdWC
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) August 2, 2022
Congratulations to Lovely Choubey, Rupa Rani Tirkey, Pinki & Nayanmoni Saikia for doing the unprecedented by winning the gold medal in lawn bowls at #CommonwealthGames! Your resolve in the see-saw battle for victory in the finals made the country proud and inspired every Indian💐
— Droupadi Murmu (@draupadimurmum) August 2, 2022
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