Commonwealth Games 2018: 5 Indians who punched above their weight

The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games has been nothing short of a phenomenal run for India. There have been quite a few records created and broken en route. Success came from unexpected quarters and the medals kept streaming in, one after the other as India's flag soared and fluttered proudly in the air.

The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games began on a sweet note with India's Mirabai Chanu braving the odds and clinching the yellow metal in the 48kg weightlifting. And since then, every day has been a fairy tale for India.

There have been wins and near-win efforts from so many unexpected athletes who stood up and showed us their worth.

Here's taking a look at 5 Indians who went out of their way and did the unexpected at the Commonwealth Games.

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#1 Muhammed Anas Yahiya

Track and field events does not come to mind immediately when we talk about expected medal wins for India. Muhammed Anas sought to correct that very notion and set about sprinting for glory.

The fact that India managed to get through to the 400 m finals after Milkha Singh's run at the 1958 Commonwealth Games, is an incredible fact. Anas went on to beat the national record thrice and improve his personal best by 0.01s, as he ran to the finish line in just 45.31s.

However, falling short by 0.02s, he finished 4th out of 8 sprinters and missed out on a medal by a whisker. This spectacular performance by Anas gives hope for the future and India are inching closer to glory in track events.

#2 Women's Table Tennis Team

The victorious Women's Table Tennis team after clinching the gold

Going into the CWG, nobody thought India would gain so much success in Table Tennis. But then again, the entire TT contingent has proved us wrong. More importantly, the Women's Table Tennis team has performed very well and achieved the impossible.

Defeating Singapore, who has never lost a gold medal match ever since the inclusion of TT as an event in the CWG from 2004, India went ahead to script history.

Led by the wonderful Manika Batra, Madhurika Patkar and Mouma Das, the Indian women team thrashed England 3-0 in the semis and went on to outclass Singapore in a fiery battle in 3-1 and claim the gold medal for the first time!

#3 Jinson Johnson

Jinson Johnson scripted history by creating a new national record

Army man Jinson Johnson was successful in the 1500 m run in the Commonwealth Games 2018. Although he missed out on winning a medal, Johnson broke the national record as he clocked a timing of 3:37.86 seconds to break the national record by a massive difference of over four seconds.

The previous record was held by Chatholi Hamza, who achieved the feat in the Asian Championships in 2008 when he made it in 3:41:18 seconds.

Johnson who excels in 800 m, went out of his way and participated in the 1500 m and the fact that he finished 5th and created a new national record is a job well done!

#4 Hima Das

Hima Das achieved a personal best of 51.32 seconds

It was 18-year-old Hima Das's first Commonwealth Games, and she sprinted off to create history. Pitted against seasoned campaigners, Hima found her footing among senior athletes and achieved a personal best of 51.32 s in the 400 m race.

Although showered with ill luck, as she had to nurse a toe injury after the completion of her race, Das prevailed to realize that she has a long, long way to go.

Given the kind of success she has achieved this time around, at just 18, she will feel assured, just as we do, that she has a long way ahead of her and closer to victory.

#5 Mohammed Hussamuddin

Mohammed Hussamuddin braved odds and clinched a bronze

Boxing, for India, was fraught with tension owing to the syringe discovery prior to the beginning of the Games.

Out of the 12 boxers, nine won medals, and India can safely be said to have put in a stellar boxing performance. Mohammed Hussamuddin, the 25-year-old, made it to the semi-finals after an incredible performance.

Going up against Peter McGrail of England in the 56kg category, Hussamuddin fell fighting 5-0 and had to settle for a bronze medal.

All his previous bouts in the Games had been spectacular enough to deem him as a new force.