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CWG 2026: India's Medal Hopes Hit Hard by Sport Exclusions
23 Jul
Summary
- Six key sports for India's medal success will not be in Glasgow 2026.
- Victoria withdrew as host, leading to a scaled-down Glasgow event.
- Shooting was already removed, impacting India's medal count in 2022.
India's traditional strength at the Commonwealth Games faces a significant challenge for the upcoming 2026 edition in Glasgow. Six sports—badminton, cricket, hockey, squash, table tennis, and wrestling—which were crucial for India's success, contributing 30 medals in Birmingham 2022, will be absent. These exclusions drastically weaken India's medal prospects.
The 2026 Games have undergone substantial changes after Victoria, Australia, withdrew as the host in 2023. Glasgow stepped in, but the event will be a more streamlined version with fewer venues and no dedicated Games Village, necessitating the removal of several sports.
This trend of sport exclusion impacting India is not new. Shooting, a major medal source in 2018, was absent in 2022. Sports remaining, like boxing and weightlifting, have seen modest Olympic performances from Indian athletes recently.
The absence of these sports also affects the next generation of athletes like squash prodigy Anahat Singh and emerging wrestlers, who lose a vital platform for international recognition and success. The scheduling clash with the FIH Hockey World Cup further deprives junior hockey players of opportunities. Athletes across various disciplines now look towards the Asian Games and Olympics, facing tougher competition.
