Commonwealth Games 2018 : Important Points You Should Know

History of Commonwealth Games

The first Commonwealth Games were held in 1930 in Hamilton, Ontario in Canada. From 1930 to 1950 the Games were known as the British Empire Games, then the British Empire and Commonwealth Games until 1962. From 1966 to 1974 they took on the title of British Commonwealth Games and from 1978 onwards they have been known as simply the Commonwealth Games.

2018 Commonwealth Games

The 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games was held in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is for the 5th time Australia hosted the Commonwealth Games more times than any other nation. Over 6,600 athletes and team officials from 71 nations and territories participate in the event.

Note:

Earlier Australia hosted Commonwealth Games in -1938, 1962, 1982, 2006.

Key points:

Motto - "Share the Dream" is the motto of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Mascot - Borobi is the mascot of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
In Commonwealth Games history, 2018 Commonwealth Games had the largest integrated sports program comprising of18 sports and seven para-sports.

Medal Tally

In 2018 Commonwealth Games, Australia topped the medal tally with total 198 medals which includes: 80 Gold, 59 Silver & 59 Bronze medals.

England stood on the second spot with total 136 medals which includes: 45 Gold, 45 Silver & 46 Bronze medals.
India stood on the third spot with total 66 medals which includes: 26 Gold, 20 Silver & 20 Bronze medals.

The first medal of the 2018 CWG

Flora Duffy of Bermuda wins the first gold of the Commonwealth Games in the women's triathlon. She finished in a time of 56 minutes and 50 seconds.

Note:

She also claims Bermuda’s first ever women’s gold medal.
It is Bermuda's second gold medal following Clarence Saunders win in the men's high jump at the Auckland 1990 games.

India at Commonwealth Games 2018

Flag bearer

Opening – P.V. Sindhu led Indian contingent at the opening ceremony of the 21st Commonwealth Games 2018.
Closing - Mary Kom led Indian contingent at the closing ceremony of the 21st Commonwealth Games 2018.

Note:

Pistol shooter Vijay Kumar was the flag-bearer in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
2014 Commonwealth Games were held in Glasgow, Scotland.

First Medallist

First medal for India in CWG 2018

P Gururaja won the first medal for India.
He won the silver medal in the men’s 56kg weightlifting event.

First Gold medal for India in CWG 2018

Mirabai Chanu won the first gold medal for India in the women’s 48 kg category Weightlifting event.

India’s Youngest-ever Gold medallist

Youngest Ever Gold medallist of India at CWG

Anish Bhanwala (15 years old) won the gold medal in the shooting game in men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event.
Anish Bhanwala is a native of Karnal, Haryana.

First Gold in Boxing

First Indian Woman Boxer to win a Gold medal

Mary Kom became the first Indian woman boxer to win a gold medal at Commonwealth Games in 2018.
She won the won the gold medal in the 48-kg category.

First Gold in Singles Woman Table Tennis

First Indian woman table tennis player to win a singles gold

Manika Batra created history by becoming the first Indian woman table tennis player to win a singles gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
She defeated Yu Mengyu of Singapore.

Gold in Javelin Throw

First Indian javelin thrower to win a gold medal

Neeraj Chopra creates history and became the first Indian javelin thrower to win a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Note:

Neeraj thus became only the second javelin thrower to claim a CWG medal -- the first being Kashinath Naik, who fetched a bronze in the 2010 Delhi Games.

Gold in Badminton Mixed-team

First-ever gold in badminton mixed-team

India clinched its first-ever gold in badminton mixed-team event by defeating Malaysia.

Note:

Saina Nehwal won the Gold medal in women’s single Badminton.
In the final, she defeated P.V. Sindhu.

Gold in women's table tennis team

First ever gold medal in table tennis team

India women's table tennis team scripted history as they clinched their first ever gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
They registered a 3- 1 victory over Singapore in the final to clinch the gold medal.
Players – Manika Batra, Mouma Das, Madhurika Patkar, Pooja Sahasrabudhe, Sutirtha Mukherjee

First medal in Shooting in CWG 2018

India's first medal in Shooting in CWG 2018

Manu Bhaker wins India's first medal in Shooting in women's 10m Air Pistol event
She is a native of Haryana.
Heena Sidhu won the silver medal in Shooting in women's 10m Air Pistol event.
Mehuli Ghosh won the silver medal in Shooting in women's 10m air rifle event.

First wrestling Gold medal in CWG 2018

India’s first wrestling gold medal in CWG 2018

Wrestler Rahul Aware wins country's first gold medal in the 57-kilogram category of the men's freestyle competition in 2018 CWG.

Other Gold medals winners list

Weightlifting

Sanjita Chanu won the second gold medal for India in 53kg category weightlifting event.
Sathish Kumar Sivalingam clinch the gold medal for India in men's 77 kg category weightlifting event
Venkat Rahul Ragala claimed India’s fourth Gold medal in 85-kg category at 21st Commonwealth Games with a total lift of 338 Kg.
Punam Yadav won the gold medal for India in the women’s 69kg category Weightlifting.

Wrestling

Sushil Kumar clinched gold in the 74 kg category in Wrestling.
Bajrang Punia won gold in 65 kg men’s freestyle wrestling category.
Sumit Malik won the gold medal in the men’s freestyle 125 kg category.
Vinesh Phogat won gold in the women’s 50-kilogram wrestling competition.

Shooting

Heena Sidhu gold medal in the Shooting - 25-metre pistol event.
Shreyasi Singh won the gold medal in Shooting in the Women’s Double Trap event.
Jitu Rai won the gold medal for India in 10m air pistol men’s Shooting event.
Sanjeev Rajput - won the gold medal in Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions.
Tejaswini Sawant - won the gold medal in Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions.

Table Tennis

India men’s table tennis team won the gold medal at 2018 Commonwealth Games.
They defeated Nigeria by 3-0 in the final.
Players – G. Sathiyan, Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, Sanil Shetty, Amalraj Anthony Arputharaj

Boxing

Boxer Gaurav Solanki won a gold medal for India in the 52kg weight class.
Boxer Vikas Krishan won the gold medal in 75 kg category.

Some Imp. Facts

The shooting was the event where India won their maximum number of medals – 16 in total and 7 of them gold.
Table Tennis player Manika Batra was the only athlete to win four medals at the games and also bagged India’s first ever gold medal at women’s singles in the CWG history.

Next Commonwealth Games

Next Commonwealth Games will be held in 2022 in Birmingham, England.
Shooting game excluded from 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Birmingham Organising Committee of Commonwealth Games decided not to pick shooting game for 2022 Games.

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