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Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will exclude many sports crucial for India's medal tally

The upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games are set to take place in Glasgow. This will feature a significantly reduced sporting program, casting a shadow over India’s medal prospects. With only ten sports scheduled across four venues, the Games represent a sharp decline from the 19 sports showcased at Birmingham 2022. This contraction is likely to have a profound impact on India’s athletes, who are traditionally strong contenders in various disciplines.

Sports Included in the Glasgow Games

The sports that will be contested in Glasgow are athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, 3x3 basketball, lawn bowls, netball, artistic gymnastics, judo, and boxing. Notably, absent from the 2026 program are several sports in which India has excelled, including badminton, cricket, hockey, squash, table tennis, triathlon, wrestling, beach volleyball, and rugby sevens.

From the 210 Indian athletes who participated in Birmingham, 98 were engaged in the sports now omitted from the Glasgow edition. This translates to approximately 47% of the contingent being sidelined, indicating a considerable reduction in India’s representation and medal opportunities.

Impact on Indian Athletes

The removal of numerous sports from the Commonwealth Games could severely hinder the prospects of Indian athletes. While the Asian Games are also scheduled to take place in 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, this does little to alleviate the disappointment regarding the Commonwealth Games. The Asian Games competition is often more challenging, and the absence of events like badminton, hockey, and table tennis means that some athletes may miss out on lucrative medal opportunities.

For instance, table tennis is a sport where India has traditionally secured a considerable number of medals at the Commonwealth level. Achanta Sharath Kamal, an iconic figure in Indian table tennis, boasts thirteen Commonwealth Games medals compared to just two from the Asian Games. The lack of table tennis at the 2026 Commonwealth Games means that Indian athletes will have to wait until 2030 for another chance, potentially missing out as younger talents rise through the ranks.

Financial Ramifications

The financial implications of the absence of Commonwealth Games events cannot be overstated. Medals at the Commonwealth Games often lead to cash rewards and government job opportunities, both crucial for an athlete's career sustainability. The prolonged wait until the next Commonwealth Games could result in significant financial insecurity for many athletes, particularly for those who rely on these earnings to support their training and development.

Additionally, while the cash awards for Asian Games medals are equivalent to those of Commonwealth Games medals, this effectively halves potential earnings for many athletes who would have expected to compete in Glasgow. For emerging stars, a Commonwealth Games medal serves as a vital stepping stone to enhance their profiles and attract sponsorships, similar to how Neeraj Chopra gained recognition after winning gold in 2018.

Consequences for India’s Medal Tally

India's performance at the Commonwealth Games has been impressive in recent years. At the 2022 Birmingham Games, India sent 210 athletes across 16 sports and returned with an impressive haul of 61 medals. However, with 30 of those medals coming from sports that will not be featured in Glasgow, the country's medal tally is expected to take a hit. Sports such as badminton, cricket, hockey, squash, table tennis, and wrestling have historically been strong contributors to India’s success.

Moreover, several sports that will be included in the Glasgow program, such as boxing, judo, and weightlifting, have seen a decline in performance on the international stage, as demonstrated by the disappointing outcomes at recent Olympic events. Four of India’s boxing medallists from the last Commonwealth Games failed to qualify for Paris 2024, indicating a potential drop in medal opportunities in 2026.

Notable Absences

The big names missing out will be PV Sindhu, Bajrang Punia, and the Indian men's hockey team. Emerging talents, like Anahat Singh, who gained repute at Birmingham at 14 years of age, will also miss out, although they have the Asian Games to look forward to. Other wrestlers such as Aman Sehrawat and Nisha Dahiya, who were fancied to win medals, will also miss the action, elongating their wait for more recognition at major multi-sport events.

Reasons Behind Reduction in Sports

The cutting back on the number of sports that will feature at the 2026 Commonwealth Games is being blamed on financial constraints. Originally planned to be held in the state of Victoria in Australia, costs were rising and the state withdrew from hosting, forcing the Commonwealth Games Federation to seek an alternative host city.

Glasgow, finally confirmed as the new host city, had to cut back on many events to control costs and today's Games have been restricted to just four venues and existing facilities. This will make the exclusion of various sports inevitable, which will then be bound to affect the athletes and sports enthusiasts themselves.

The sports world is eagerly looking forward to the 2026 Commonwealth Games drawing nearer, as promising competition slowly loses shine due to lost opportunities to exhibit their prowess and precious medals.