Commonwealth Games 2026 Cuts Wrestling, Cricket, Hockey, and More Major Sports
The upcoming Commonwealth Games in 2026 may pose a challenge for the Indian contingent. Major sports like wrestling, badminton, hockey, cricket, and shooting will be absent from the Glasgow schedule. Additionally, table tennis, triathlon, and squash have also been removed.
On Tuesday, Glasgow revealed a trimmed list of only 10 disciplines. This decision aims to keep the event budget-friendly. Scheduled from July 23 to August 2, 2026, the Games mark Glasgow’s return as host after 12 years, following the 2014 edition.
The Commonwealth Games Federation confirmed the sports program will include athletics and para athletics (track and 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 events will take place across four venues: Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena (including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome), and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). Athletes and their support staff will stay in hotel accommodations.
This schedule poses a significant setback for India’s medal prospects, as many medals in previous Commonwealth Games came from the excluded disciplines. However, shooting’s absence was anticipated after it was dropped from the Birmingham Games four years ago due to logistical issues.
India enjoyed a remarkable performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, securing a total of 61 medals: 22 gold, 16 silver, and 23 bronze, finishing fourth in the medal tally. Wrestling was particularly successful, with India winning 12 medals in that discipline, alongside 10 in weightlifting and 8 in athletics. Overall, India ranks fourth in the all-time Commonwealth Games medal table, with a total of 564 medals, including 203 gold, 190 silver, and 171 bronze.
As the Indian contingent prepares for Glasgow, the exclusion of key sports raises concerns about its potential success in the upcoming competition.
