Implications of CWG 2026 Games for India
The upcoming Commonwealth Games in 2026 are due to see significant changes, with the event featuring only 10 sports, reducing from 19 in the 2022 Birmingham Games. Prominent games such as Badminton, Cricket, Hockey, Squash, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Wrestling, Beach Volleyball and Rugby Sevens have been dropped, which could markedly affect India's performance.
India saw participation from approximately 210 athletes in Birmingham, with nearly 47% partaking in sports that are no longer part of the 2026 event line-up. This major shift is expected to result in a downsized squad representing India in Glasgow.
While some athletes may find respite in the Asian Games scheduled in 2026, competition levels at the Asian Games and the Olympics are generally higher than at the Commonwealth Games. This could hinder medal prospects for many of India's athletes, particularly those in sports such as Table Tennis. For instance, Table Tennis legend, Achanta Sharath Kamal, has secured 13 medals at the Commonwealth Games compared to only two at the Asiad games.
The reshuffling of the sports line-up can also impact athletes' financial stability. A Commonwealth Games medal often leads to cash awards and potential government employment, essential for athletes' career progression and financial security. These changes may also result in deferring peak performances for upcoming stars and revise the plans of veteran talents like PV Sindhu and Bajrang Punia.
India's wrestlers potentially stand to lose the most. All twelve wrestlers returned with medals from Birmingham, a remarkable feat not replicated at the Hangzhou Asian Games. The Commonwealth Games usually present an assured medal-winning event for the Indian wrestlers, and its exclusion from the 2026 Games could prove to be a significant loss.
As India prepares for the Tokyo Commonwealth Games, these changes serve as a new challenge to its athletes and their medal prospects.
