India’s Commonwealth Games medal prospects have taken a hit with the exclusion of key sports like cricket, hockey, among others, from the 2026 schedule.
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This decision was announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation as part of a trimmed roster to make the event more budget-friendly. The exclusion of these major sports could affect India’s performance, as the nation has historically won many medals in these disciplines.
Which sports have been excluded from the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
The 2026 Commonwealth Games, set to take place in Glasgow, will not feature several sports that are popular in India. Cricket, hockey, wrestling, badminton, shooting, table tennis, triathlon, and squash have all been left out. These exclusions come as part of a reduced program aimed at keeping costs low.
“The sports programme will include Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & Field), Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para Bowls, and 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball,” the Commonwealth Games Federation said in a statement.
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What will be the impact on India’s medal prospects?
This is a significant setback for India, as many of its medals in previous editions have come from the omitted sports. For example, in the 2022 CWG, India bagged a total of 61 medals, with wrestling alone contributing 12 medals.
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Sports like weightlifting, athletics, boxing, and table tennis also helped India secure a fourth-place finish. The removal of these sports could greatly reduce India’s chances of winning medals in 2026.
The sports program for the 2026 Games will focus on athletics, swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling, netball, weightlifting, boxing, judo, bowls, and basketball. Both para and non-para versions of some of these sports will also be part of the event.
