How exclusion of hockey, wrestling, cricket from CWG 2026 is huge blow to India
In a major blow to India’s medal hopes at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the organisers have dropped sports such as hockey, cricket, wrestling, badminton, squash and table tennis, among others, from the programme.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) confirmed on Tuesday (October 22) that the 23rd edition of the quadrennial event will take place in Scotland from July 23 to August 2, 2026, returning to the city after a 12 year gap – albeit as a stop-gap solution this time around.
Glasgow 2026 will feature a 10-sport programme spread over four venues (Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena – including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, and the Scottish Event Campus) within an eight-mile radius, ensuring an action-packed Games across each day of competition. The aim is also to make the event accessible and appealing to spectators looking to enjoy the multi-sport environment and festival feel.
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.
How revised sports programme can affect India at CWG 2026
In most of the sports which have been dropped from the Games, India finished top in the last edition in Birmingham in 2022.
India had clinched 61 medals during the 2022 Commonwealth Games, including 22 golds.
At the 2022 Games in Birmingham, India had won 12 medals in wrestling (six gold, one silver and five bronze), seven in table tennis (four golds, one silver and two bronze), six in badminton (three gold, one silver, two bronze), two in hockey (silver and bronze), two in squash (bronze) and one in cricket (silver).
In total, it comes to 30 of the 61 medals that India had won at the Games in England.
