Ryan Fox welcomed with enthusiasm in Auckland after winning the British Open

On Wednesday, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 saw numerous achievements for India. In the athletics discipline, Indian star and long jumper Murali Shrishanka won a silver medal in his second consecutive championship, achieving a jump of 8.09 meters.

Achievements in Para-athletics

Para-athletics was also historic for India: in the men's 100-meter T47 category, the country secured both gold and silver positions. In this same sporting section, Dileep Mahadu Gawit won the gold medal, setting a new tournament record of 10.71 seconds. Mohammed Basil Morsingankath from India won silver, finishing in 10.83 seconds.

Overall Score and Achievements

This is India's third gold medal at the current Games. Previously, gold was won by Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting) and Sharmila Dhaka (women's shot put F57). Including these three awards, India's total tally reached 15 medals: 3 gold, 9 silver, and 3 bronze. Because of this, India ranks eighth in the overall medal standings.

Results in Boxing

Indian boxers also showed outstanding results, guaranteeing themselves at least 10 medals, surpassing their previous performance. Sakshi Choudhary (51 kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70 kg), Sachin Sivach (60 kg), Ankush Pangal (80 kg), Narendra Barwal (+90 kg), and world champion Jasmine Lamboria (57 kg) advanced to the quarter-finals. Additionally, Lovlina Borgohain (75 kg), Priya Ghangas (60 kg), Preeti Pawar (54 kg), and Jadumani Singh (55 kg) also reached the semi-finals.

Development in Athletics

In the final bout, Jasmine Lamboria defeated Alice Glein from England with a score of 4:1, advancing to the semi-finals in the 57 kg category. The victory of six Indian boxers led to the number of Indian athletes reaching the semi-finals reaching ten. This result surpassed the seven medals won by Indian boxers at the Birmingham 2022 Games.

Other Athletics Disciplines

In athletics, Yash Palaksh and Santosh Ke Tamilarasam qualified for the men's 400-meter hurdles final. Both athletes made it to the final as participants who recorded the worst time among those who lost. Santosh placed third in the second session, running 49.51 seconds, while Yash placed third in the first session with a time of 49.65 seconds. Both finished seventh and eighth, respectively, earning qualification for the final.

Shot Put and Sprint

In women's shot put, Manpreet Singh took fourth place with a result of 17.49 meters. In men's shot put, Tajinderpal Singh Tuur, the national record holder, and Samardip Singh Gil advanced to the final. Tuur covered a distance of 20.14 meters in the second throw, and Gil's best result was 19.95 meters.

Setbacks in Weightlifting and Swimming

Animesh Kujur, the national record holder, also reached the semi-finals in the 200-meter event, winning his session with the season's best time of 20.46 seconds and placing seventh overall. However, in weightlifting, India faced disappointment: Sanja was unable to complete the competition in the 77 kg category and was declared DNF (did not finish). In swimming, Sadjan Prakash and Anish S. Gauda failed to qualify for the men's 200-meter freestyle final. Sadjan placed fifth in his session and 20th overall, while Anish finished 18th with a time of 1:51.64.

Many viewers wonder about the origin of players who stand out in major competitions like CBLOL or VCT. Just as it happens in football, the competitive universe of electronic games has a grassroots category dedicated to developing new talent.

Function of grassroots tournaments

These events, both amateur and semi-professional, constitute the first point of contact for various players with a structured competitive environment. It is in this context that they gain experience in playing collectively, managing competition pressure, respecting schedules, collaborating with coaches, and understanding organizational dynamics.

GG League Initiative

Phelipe Cerezzo, founder of Liga GG, which organizes amateur and semi-professional championships for League of Legends and VALORANT, explained that the lack of such a space motivated the creation of the initiative in 2018. He stated: 'We realized there were thousands of talented players, but few paths for them to be seen. We decided to create this bridge between the dream and professionalism.'

Learning and Athletic Development

Grassroots tournaments serve as the gateway to the esports competitive scene, allowing newcomers to participate in organized championships, gain experience, and attract the attention of larger teams. In these environments, competitors learn to handle the pressure of live broadcasts, maintain a training routine, work in a team, and improve skills that go beyond mere game mechanics.

For Cerezzo, this process is fundamental for the formation of any athlete. He compared it to football, saying: 'The base is where it all begins. Just as in football there are development categories, in esports it is the same. No athlete arrives prepared at the highest level without competing before. It is in the base that the player learns discipline, communication, teamwork, emotional control, and builds competitive experience.'

Beyond the Athletes

The esports ecosystem involves much more than just players. Professionals such as commentators, analysts, broadcasters, League Ops (responsible for tournament operation), designers, video editors, observers, and social media managers also use grassroots tournaments to develop their skills and build their portfolios.

Cerezzo pointed out that Liga GG has seen commentators, analysts, League Ops, tournament administrators, designers, broadcast producers, social media managers, photographers, video editors, and content creators start their journeys. He concluded that 'The base trains professionals for the entire ecosystem, not just athletes.'

Impact on the Brazilian Scene

For many competitors, grassroots tournaments represent the first chance to participate in a structured environment, enabling teams to identify talents that might otherwise go unnoticed in ranked matches. This model has been crucial for the growth of the Brazilian competitive scene. According to Phelipe Cerezzo, over 120 players who went through Liga GG reached the professional level, confirming the importance of these competitions in developing new talent.

Although not all participants reach the professional level, the experience gained in these championships drives player evolution and expands their career options in esports.

Community Building

Grassroots tournaments go beyond sports rivalry, as they foster community building. They bring together not only players but also people interested in esports, strengthening a network of mutual collaboration. For Cerezzo, this sense of belonging indicates that the project has achieved its purpose.

He observed that Liga GG transcended the function of a mere championship when participants remained involved even after being eliminated, staying in the Discord, watching broadcasts, and interacting with other teams. It was at that moment that they realized they were building a community.

Conclusion on the Future

In summary, although the focus is often on major championships, it is in grassroots tournaments that the future of esports truly takes shape. It is there that players and professionals have the first space to develop skills, gain experience, and find opportunities for advancement in this market. The CEO of Liga GG emphasized that the beginning is the most vital step, because 'Every professional started as a beginner. The important thing is to take the first step and seize every opportunity to evolve.' Investing in the base strengthens the entire structure of the Brazilian esports market, forming professionals, uniting communities, and consolidating the competitive scene.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz has identified increasing the team's attacking productivity as one of the main priorities. He admitted that last season the gap between Amakhosi and the top teams in the Betway Premier League was too large.

Analysis of Last Season

In the previous season, Chiefs demonstrated some of the best defensive records in the league, only trailing Orlando Pirates, who became champions. However, problems in the final third of the field prevented them from seriously challenging for the title, as their attacking performance significantly lagged behind the two teams that finished higher.

Amakhosi finished fourth in the Betway Premiership in terms of goals scored, behind Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Lamontville Golden Arrows. The difference was particularly noticeable when compared to the leaders: Sundowns scored 24 more goals than Chiefs, and Pirates led them by 25 goals.

Strategy for Improvement

Speaking at the Betway Premiership presentation in Johannesburg, da Cruz stated that improving offensive power would be one of the key tasks for Chiefs in striving to compete for trophies this season. He noted that the team always strives to improve its level and defended well in past years.

Nevertheless, he emphasized that the gap between Chiefs and the two higher-ranked teams was quite significant, making it an area that needs improvement. According to the Portuguese coach, however, the focus should not be on individual players but on developing and improving the entire attacking dynamic.

Focus on Team Play

Da Cruz believes that solving the problems lies not in depending on one or two players, but in forming a stronger attacking identity across the entire squad. Although Chiefs' defensive structure provided a solid foundation last season, the lack of attacking consistency meant they could not keep pace with Pirates and Sundowns.

The coach emphasizes perfecting the collective approach to attack, expecting that improved movement, combination play, and decision-making will help Chiefs become more effective in finishing moves. The club has also strengthened its squad in the transfer window to create a team capable of competing on various fronts.

To close the gap on the league's dominant forces, da Cruz understands that defensive solidity must be balanced by greater attacking efficiency. The Soweto giants will start their campaign with an away match at Mbombela stadium against newly promoted Kruger United on Saturday. Amakhosi's ability to convert more chances and score more goals may determine whether they can narrow the distance to Pirates and Sundowns amid the fierce battle for the Betway Premiership title.