October 22, 2024: In a significant blow to India’s prospects for the Commonwealth Games 2026, key sports such as cricket, field hockey, badminton, and wrestling have been removed from the event’s program. The Games, scheduled to take place in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, 2026, considerably fewer than the 20 sports included in the 2022 edition held in Birmingham.
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The exclusion of these popular sports represents a major shift from previous Games. The sports that have been omitted include Field Hockey, Cricket, Badminton, Wrestling, Table Tennis, Diving, Rugby Sevens, Beach Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Squash and Rhythmic Gymnastics. Notably, shooting, which was removed from the Birmingham 2022 schedule, has not been reinstated.
Wrestling and shooting have historically been dominant sports for India at the Commonwealth Games, with India winning 135 medals in shooting and 114 medals in wrestling, including 63 and 49 gold medals, respectively. In the last edition, India secured 12 medals in wrestling, comprising six golds, a silver, and five bronzes.
Field hockey’s exclusion is particularly noteworthy, as the sport has been part of the Commonwealth Games since its debut in 1998. India has a strong legacy in this sport, winning a total of six medals (one gold, four silver, and one bronze), making it the second-most successful team in CWG history, behind Australia.
India also boasts an impressive record in badminton and table tennis, having won 31 medals (including 10 gold) in badminton and 28 medals (also 10 gold) in table tennis across all editions of the Games.
This decision to reduce the number of sports in the Glasgow Games highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining a balance between inclusivity, cost, and logistical feasibility, which may impact India’s overall medal tally and competitiveness in the upcoming event.
The confirmed sports for Glasgow 2026 are:
Additionally, the para variants of the first five sports will be integrated into the para program at the Games. The competitions will be hosted across four venues within an eight-mile corridor, including:
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