The World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Olympic Games are the four largest sporting events in the world. Although, they are all different from each other but they are the most challenging tournaments of all. Hence, winning medals at those stages is not an easy task. Some Indian players made it possible to win medals at these tournaments.

The World Championships which was organized by World Athletics is a biennial athletics competition. They represent the highest level championships of senior international outdoor athletics competition for track and field athletics globally, including marathon running and race walking. It was the first World Championships that the IAAF had hosted separately from the Olympic Games.

The Asian Games is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. It is also familiar as 'Asiad'. Earlier, it was regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) but now the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) organizes the games. The AG is considered as the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games.

Back in 1930, the Commonwealth Games was known as the British Empires Games. It is an international multisport event contested by athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The Commonwealth Games Federation manages the games, held every four years among athletes from all over the world.

Olympic Games were once inspired by the ancient Olympic Games, held in Olympia, Greece. Olympics are the leading international sporting events. Thousands of athletes from around the world participate in the games. More than 200 nations compete in the world's foremost sports competition.

Indian players who have medals in WC, AG, CWG, and OG:

Leander Paes (Badminton)

• World Championships- Leander Paes holds the record for the most doubles wins in the Davis Cup with 43 victories. He was a former Davis Cup team captain. Paes is fifth among all players in terms of Davis Cup wins with 91 victories.
• Asian Games- Paes led the Indian tennis team at the Doha Asian Games in 2006 and won two golds in the men's doubles with Bhupathi and mixed doubles with Sania Mirza.
• Olympic Games- Leander became the first Indian to win an individual Olympic medal since 1952 with a bronze at the Atlanta Olympics. It was Indian tennis' first Olympic medal.

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (Shooting)

• World Championships- The Indian army man, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won a bronze medal in the World Championship in Spain in 2006 for India after a gap of nearly 40 years.
•  Asian Games- Rathore holds an Individual bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.
• Commonwealth Games- At the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Rathore won a gold medal and set a new Commonwealth Games Record of 192 targets out of 200, which still stands. He also won the Team Gold Medal along with Moraad Ali Khan. He successfully defended at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006 and won the gold medal in individual and a silver medal in Team events with Vikram Bhatnagar.
• Olympic Games- He won India's first individual Olympic silver medal at Athens 2004.

Abhinav Bindra (Shooting)

• World Championships- Abhinav Bindra won the title at the 2006 ISSF World Shooting Championships with a score of 699.1 after returning from a severe back injury.
• Asian Games- Bindra achieved three medals in Asian Games in his shooting career.
• Commonwealth Games- In the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Bindra achieved his first gold medal in the doubles event and silver in the individual event. He won a total of seven medals at the Commonwealth Games.
• Olympic Games- The 39-year-old shooter qualified in three Olympic finals. He achieved the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Bindra was the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal.

Vijender Singh (Boxing)

• World Championships- Vijender Singh won a bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships.
• Asian Games-  In the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, Vijender achieved a gold medal. He also won a bronze in the Doha Asian Games in 2006.
• Commonwealth Games- Vijender has recorded three medals across three different editions. During the 2006 CWG, Vijender secured a silver medal in the welterweight category. He won a bronze medal in the 2010 Delhi Games. His last CWG medal was during the 2014 Glasgow games where he won a silver medal. 
• Olympic Games- Vijender Singh created history during the summer Beijing Olympics in 2008. He won a bronze medal and became the first boxer ever from the country to win an Olympic medal.

Sushil Kumar (Wrestling)

• World Championships- Sushil Kumar earned a well-deserved gold medal at the Wrestling World Championships held in Moscow in 2010. By doing so, he created history becoming the first-ever wrestler to win a gold in the world championships.
• Commonwealth Games- The wrestler has won three gold medals across three different editions. The first came in the 2010 Delhi games, where Kumar won the gold. The second gold was achieved at the 2014 Glasgow games. The third successive gold medal was won during the 2018 games in Australia.
• Olympic Games- Sushil Kumar secured the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Kumar also won the silver medal in the 66kg freestyle event in the 2012 London Olympics.

Vijay Kumar (Shooting)

• World Championships- Vijay Kumar has two silver medals at the World Championships. The first silver was achieved during the 2009 Beijing edition in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event. And the second at the 2011 Fort Benning Championships in the same event.
• Asian Games- One of Kumar's most notable achievements is the silver medal at the Asian Games. He secured a silver at the 2014 Incheon Games in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol Team event. The Olympian also has two bronze medals, which include the 2006 Doha and 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
• Commonwealth Games- The athlete has one silver and five gold medals overall in various editions of the Commonwealth Games. He won his first gold at the 2006 Melbourne Games in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol (Singles) event and followed up with another gold in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol (Pairs) event. His best performance came during the 2010 Delhi Games.
• Olympic Games- He is one of the four shooters who have won an individual medal at the Olympics for India. He won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

Gagan Narang (Shooting)

• World Championships-  Gagan Narang has accumulated three gold medals and two bronze medals across three editions. He won gold during the 2006 ISSF World Cup in Guangzhou in the 10m air rifle event. Narang won his second World Cup gold in the Final of the 10m air rifle event in Bangkok in 2008. He achieved the third gold during the 2009 World Cup in Changwon in the 50m rifle 3 Positions event.
• Asian Games- Narang won a gold medal in the Afro Asian Games in 2003 in Men's 10m air rifle competition. He also clinched a silver medal in his pet event at the 2010 Asian Games. Narang combined with Abhinav Bindra and Sanjeev Rajput to win the country another silver in the team event.
• Commonwealth Games- Gagan Narang truly burst onto the international stage when he bagged four gold medals for India at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. He also performed well in 2010. The athlete helped India by clinching four golds in the 2010 Delhi games. He achieved a total of 10 CWG medals in his career.
• Olympic Games- During the 2012 Summer Olympics, the shooter secured the bronze in the 10m air rifle event. He secured the medal with a total score of 701.1.

Saina Nehwal ( Badminton)

• World Championships- Saina Nehwal became the first Indian female badminton player to win a silver and reach the finals at the BWF World Championships in 2015. She lost to Carolina Marin in the final.
• Asian Games- At the 2018 Asian Games, Saina made history by winning the first medal for India by a woman. She clinched a bronze medal in that tournament.
• Commonwealth Games- Saina won a gold medal in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, which was a very successful edition for India in terms of the overall medal tally.
• Olympic Games- Saina secured a well-deserved bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics. She achieved the medal by beating Dutch Yao Jie by 21-15, 22-20 in straight games.

Mary Kom (Boxing)

• World Championships- Mary Kom holds the distinction of winning 8 World Championship medals. No other boxer (either male or female) in the world holds such a feat. She has won 6 gold 1 silver and 1 bronze in the competition in her career.
• Asian Games- Mary Kom was the only Indian boxer to win a gold in the Asian Games. She beat Kazakhstan's Zhaina Shekarbekova in the 2014 tournament to achieve the feat. Besides, she won bronze in the 2010 Asian Games.
• Commonwealth Games- Mary Kom also became the first female boxer to win gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She won her medal in the light flyweight category at Gold Coast, Queensland.
• Olympic Games- Mary Kom fulfilled her dream of winning an Olympic medal in the London Olympics. She achieved a bronze medal after competing in the flyweight (51 kg) category.

PV Sindhu (Badminton)

• World Championships- PV Sindhu has a total number of five medals in the BWF World Championships. Sindhu won a gold medal in the 2019 World Championships and became the first Indian woman to achieve the feat. In earlier editions, she had won two bronze and two silver medals at the tournament.
• Asian Games-Sindhu won a bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games as well as a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.
• Commonwealth Games- The Hyderabadi girl won a bronze medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. She performed significantly in the CWG 2018, winning two medals in the same tournament, gold in the mixed team event and silver in the individual event.
• Olympic Games-She is only the second individual athlete from India to win two consecutive medals at the Olympic Games. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, she achieved a silver medal. She made her second consecutive appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and won a bronze medal.

Neeraj Chopra (Javelin)

• World Championships- Neeraj Chopra created history after becoming the first ever Indian athlete to win a silver at the 2022 World Championships with a throw of 88.13m.
• Asian Games- The 24-year-old made his Asian Games debut in August 2018. He won gold in the Men's Javelin Throw after throwing a distance of 88.06m, bettering his own national record.
• Commonwealth games- Neeraj participated in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and won a gold medal. But unfortunately, due to a groin injury, he will not able to compete at the 2022 commonwealth Games.
• Olympic Games- Neeraj Chopra created history by bagging gold in the final of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 87.58m in his second attempt. It was Chopra's debut in the Olympic Games.

PUMA has roped in the Indian Badminton sensation PV Sindhu as its new brand ambassador, partnering in a multi-year deal. 

The German Sports Apparel brand has chosen India as the first country to expand its orbit in the world of sports, marking its official appearance in Badminton. 

Ahead of the announcement, PUMA has executed a pioneering move, changing its brand signage to 'PVMA'  at several official stores in the country for almost a week.

 

 

 

 

 

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PV Sindhu becomes the new brand ambassador of PUMA 

PV Sindhu is undoubtedly one of the greatest Indian badminton icons of this generation, surging the excitement of the game into millions of fans in India. The two-time Olympic medalist has achieved numerous accolades throughout her career, popularizing the game among Indian sports fanatics.

Sindhu has not only become the first Indian to conquer five badminton world championship medals, but also she has earned noteworthy honours such as the Khel Ratna, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Arjuna Award.

However, Sindhu's unparalleled achievements have injected interest among the youth, and PUMA has adopted the plan to capitalize on the popularity of the 29-year-old. 

According to the Google-Deloitte Think Sports report from 2024, India has a growing fanbase of Badminton, which stands at nearly 57 million. 

PUMA adopted an unprecedented marketing strategy to draw the interest of Indian sports fans, changing their brand name to 'PVMA' in several stores and many billboards across India for almost a week.

This move left the netizens and fans wondering as some speculated the possibility of onboarding PV Sindhu, whereas the partnership has been made official today. 

Many PUMA stores across India have changed their logo and branding to “PVMA”.
This change can be seen in the Indian website as well.

What’s happening? 👀 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ecPbCe2WzW

— sid (@immasiddx) January 11, 2025

However, The partnership between PUMA and Sindhu will debut at the India Open 2025 in New Delhi. This exciting collaboration will bring a high-performance badminton range soon, featuring specialized footwear, apparel, and accessories. 

Sindhu has expressed her elation regarding this move, stating the following.

I’m excited to join the PUMA family, a brand that shares my belief in the power of sport to inspire. This partnership with PUMA India isn’t just about being part of something bigger—it is an opportunity to connect with those who value pushing boundaries and embracing challenges.

“Badminton has always been a platform for growth and self-discovery for me, and through this collaboration, I hope to encourage others, especially women, to take risks, believe in themselves, and strive for more—both on and off the court,

Karthik Balagopalan, Managing Director of PUMA India, said:

PV Sindhu is a legend and a trailblazer, and we are proud & delighted to welcome her into our PUMA family. She is the most followed badminton athlete in the world. Her extraordinary legacy in Indian sports which includes a lot of historic firsts has not only placed India on the badminton map globally but has also inspired millions, pushed the boundaries, and paved the way for future generations of athletes.

“As we make our first-ever step into badminton, this association will further our goal to increase PUMA’s footprint in the rapidly growing sports landscape in the country, inspiring more youngsters to take up the racquet-sport,

Two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra has announced the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his career. Neeraj on Saturday announced the appointment of great javelin thrower Jan Zelezny as his new coach.

Also Read: NEERAJ CHOPRA INJURY: A SAGA OF STRAIN, TECHNIQUE, AND RECOVERY

Jan Zelezny, a three-time Olympic and world champion and current world record holder, has long been Chopra's idol. Actually, Neeraj Chopra was working with German coach Klaus Bartonietz till now, but Klaus has recently retired from coaching.

Announcing the new coach, Neeraj said, “Growing up, I admired Jan’s technique and precision and spent a lot of time watching videos of him. He was the best in the sport for so many years, and I believe that working with him will be invaluable because our throwing styles are similar, and his knowledge is unmatched. It’s an honour to have Jan by my side as I push towards the next level in my career, and I can’t wait to get started,” 

Chopra didn't breach 90m mark

Chopra, 26, won a historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and silver at the Paris Olympics 2024, as well as two world championships medals, silver at the 2022 Eugene edition and gold at the 2023 Budapest. However, over the past few years, Chopra has expressed his desire to breach the 90m mark. His alliance with Bartonietz after Paris, where Chopra again failed to hit the 90m mark while Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem won gold with an Olympic record 92.97m.

Also Read: Neeraj Chopra’s best throws: Here are all the top throws by javelin ace Neeraj Chopra

Under Zelezny's guidance, Neeraj will try to take his success to a different level. On this occasion, Jan Zelezny said, “I have already spoken about Neeraj as a great talent many years ago. When I saw him early in his career, I realised great possibilities for top results. I also said that if I should start to coach somebody from outside Czechia, my first choice would be Neeraj. I like his story and I see big potential, as he is young and able to improve."

Zelezny broke WR on four occasions

Jan Zelezny, a gold medalist at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympic Games, has five of the top ten best throws of all time. In 1996, he set a world record in Germany with a throw of 98.48m. He broke the world record on four occasions.

When Chopra won gold at the Tokyo 2020, Zelezny was the coach of both other medalists Jakub Vadlejch (silver) and Vítězslav Veselý (bronze).. He has also coached two-time Olympic champion and three-time world champion Barbora Špotáková.

The art of javelin throw is a perfect balance of both technique and power. And Neeraj Chopra, who relies mostly on technique, is struggling due to his recurring groin injury With a jam-packed schedule since the last year, he "ignored" the pain, for the sake of participation. However, with a clear window till mid-2025, it is high time for the 2024 Paris Olympics Silver medallist to undergo the required treatment. Additionally, he fractured his hand while practising, during the Brussels Diamond League, thus calling off, for this year, at least.

The Groin Injury: An Unseen Strain Troubling Neeraj Chopra

In 2018, Neeraj Chopra got an inury in his erector muscles which was healed. However, it has resurfaced since last year, at Bhubaneshwar, at the middle of June.

Chopra's physio Ishan Marwah, has been monitoring him closely. he explained the injury in Layman terms- the erector muscles are directly connected to the pelvic bones. Thus the injury is giving strain to the muscles, hampering his normal run up, followed by this throw.

In the most ideal situation, Neeraj would like to increase the speed of his run- up. This needs quicker movement of his right leg and hips. However, the strain is preventing him from doing so, leading to a compromised throwing technique. His block leg, i.e., the left leg, is crucial for delivering power in the final phase of the throw. But with the injury lingering, he’s unable to fully complete that movement. What looks like his signature fall after each throw, is nothing but a visual representation of his technical failures.

Technical Hurdles: The Cascade Effect

As mentioned earlier, javelin is a highly technical sport. The body needs to be in motion and in absolute sync. Neeraj Chopra suffering from groin injury has led to a cascading effect on his entire throwing mechanism. As Ishan explained to multiple sources, his right leg is not performing in the required way. Thus, Chopra falls more on his left, bending it slightly, which is, ideally not good for a powerful throw.

The rule books say, the perfect projectile will get the spear fall centrally or slightly to the right. However, in Chopra’s case, the javelin is turning to the left due to him falling leftward at the end of his throw. This is the major flaw he is having due to the injury.

In the last few outings, Chopra hasn’t been in his signature best form. He has an initial season best in the Olympics Qualifier itself with an impressive throw of at 89.34. He sealed the Olympics silver with 89.49 meters in the finals.

However, his signature "roar" was vividly missing.

Read also: Neeraj Chopra’s best throws: Here are all the top throws by javelin ace Neeraj Chopra

The Chicken and Egg Situation: Neeraj Chopra Sandwiched between Injury and Technique

The groin injury has got Neeraj Chopra in a vicious cycle. The injury is hampering his daily practice routine. As per Marwah, Neeraj earlier has to have 2 to 3 sessions of practice each week. Each session has 35 to 40 throws. With the injury becoming a growing concern, Neeraj had to reduce the no of sessions, each having around 20 throws. Lack of practice is affecting his technique, which is directly causing more strain. Again, Ishan clarified that adequate training is the way to cure the strain. 

Neeraj, Unlike Arshad Nadeem or the Germans, has depended more on technique and not power. He has his shoulder flexibility as his biggest pros, but with the injury in the scene, things got hampered.

However, Marwah is optimistic, hoping that proper medical advice and rehabilitation will fully recover Chopra. The latter is having the right shape, and with proper rehabilitation, he can aim to add an extra 3 to 4 meters to his throw. However, that requires adequate rest, and avoiding risks, which calls for skipping certain competitions.

Neeraj Chopra signs off for 2024, with hand injury

Soon after the Brussels Diamond League, Neeraj Chopra took to his social media handle to inform about his hand injury. He informed, that he had fractured the fourth metacarpal in his left hand during practice. He thus, is calling off his professional participation, for this year. Despite this, Chopra sealed a second position, that too by missing the 24-carat Diamond, by just a centimetre (87.86 m).

As the 2024 season ends, I look back on everything I’ve learned through the year - about improvement, setbacks, mentality and more.

On Monday, I injured myself in practice and x-rays showed that I had fractured the fourth metacarpal in my left hand. It was another painful… pic.twitter.com/H8nRkUkaNM

— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) September 15, 2024

What the future calls

A gold in the Tokyo Olympics has raised the expectations bar to such a level, that whiskers feel like major losses. The present air is more concerned about him touching the magic 90 m Mark, more than him recovering. 

With the groin injury being a major issue, the fracture has gotten Neeraj Chopra an “added advantage” to pull off the curtain for now. As the javelin world awaits to see what comes next for him, one thing is certain: his determination, resilience, and unmatched focus will continue to push him forward. At days, it should be recovery, more than crossing 90 meters on the court.

On Tuesday, the organizers of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 confirmed that only 10 sports will be played in limited venues to keep the finances in check. 

A previously proposed event, that had a minimum of 20 disciplines was reduced to half, which has sparked disappointments amongst many Indians. The reason is quite simple. The Indian-dominated sports like badminton, hockey, cricket, and weightlifting have been axed. 

Not only that, a sport like squash, which gets major highlights in the CWG due to its absence in the Olympics, has been eliminated.

The IOA (Indian Olympics Association) president, PT Usha, too expressed her despondency towards the decision. But, why? 

The point is, how relevant are "Commonwealth Games," previously known as "British Empire Games," in a decolonized era?

The Idea behind Commonwealth Games

A brainchild of revered Canadian sportswriter and editor Melville Marks Robinson, the Commonwealth Games had its origin in 1930, bearing an essence of still-accepted colonialism. A total of 54 countries, who were once colonies of the British Empire, participated in this event.

The 2022 version, however, saw 72 nations participating.

Inspired by the 1911 Inter Empire Championships, this unique event has been hosted across nine countries. Australia and Canada lead with five editions each. 

Standing in 2024, when the phrase "third-world country" seems nonexistent, who would ever succumb to the pre-established boot-licking attitude toward the English, that too spending some billion dollars for hosting?

Finance definitely raises eyebrows, but the motto it has been carrying for so long should come into question, even in countries like India.

U-turn from Australia to Glasgow

Australia, a country that has hosted the event at least five times, has denied hosting it. Initially, it was Victoria's assignment to conduct the event. However, the arrangement costs skyrocketed from an estimated Aus$2 billion to an alarming Aus$7 billion.

Premier Daniel Andrews, in the press conference in Melbourne, clearly stated that he would never dare to pluck in a huge sum from the funds of hospitals and schools for a sporting event. 

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) scrambled to find a replacement, offering Malaysia £100 million to step in. Even with such a hefty financial contribution, Malaysia turned down the offer, citing insufficient preparation time and the prohibitive costs of hosting the event.

Even Canada's Alberta province last year withdrew its support for a bid for the 2030 Games.

Financial Suffering

The rejections have somehow brought in a raw, uncut picture to the world. The sentiments, accompanied by the suffering, take a long time to recover.

Countries are unwilling to foot the massive bill for an event, even when provided with financial assistance. The event brings in little to no economic return and dwindling global interest.

The Commonwealth Games, which seemed like a prestigious event, has been a burden — a relic of the past whose significance is diminishing in a world with far more pressing priorities.

Glasgow steps in

Following the repeated rejections, there was a point when the Commonwealth Games future looked uncertain for the 2026 version. Countries backing out brought clouds of a postponed tournament before its centenary year in 2030.

At that point, Glasgow stepped in. Glasgow had its experience of hosting a CWG, as it did in 2014. This time, it made the event easy.

Glasgow decided to host a severely pared-down version of the CWG in 2026, with 4 venues in an 8-mile radius. Not only that, the number of participants will also be restricted.

Birmingham's Commonwealth Games: A Legacy of Financial Strain?

Birmingham stepped up to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games when Durban withdrew, promising a grand event to boost the city. However, financial issues soon arose, leading to political tension and public concern.

Max Caller, former adviser to Birmingham City Council, called the decision to host the Games "a mistake" amidst longstanding financial problems. Hosting the event diverted attention from the council’s critical issues, including a £760 million bill for equal pay claims and a botched IT system that may cost £100 million to fix.

While the Games were an "amazing event," their financial aftermath sparked debates, with citizens worried about budget cuts affecting essential services. Community centres, libraries, and even the famed German Christmas Market could face closures as the council struggles with bankruptcy.

But is finance the real concern?

India had hosted the 2010 CWG, followed by financial turmoil in the country. It took years for the country to overcome. India has now successfully bid for the Olympics 2036. 

Hosting the Olympics has also led to never-ending financial scars for many countries. Athens is a prominent name in that. 

But yet, countries hardly step back to host it. Is it really the finances or the pride that pushes them to bid for the Olympics?

Will India suffer from the reduction?

In the idealistic world of sport, India shouldn't. In such a situation, the question comes: how relevant is CWG to the sporting world? 

With the rising popularity of the Asian Games that have dominated countries like China and the Olympics, which is the oldest and largest form of multidisciplinary sports event, CWG falls short in both glamour and relevance.

The limited exposure giving year-old consolation to the country with an "international medal" has been falling short repeatedly in the Olympics. The count of CWG medalist athletes who have earned a medal in the Olympics is relatively low. A Mirabai Chanu, a PV Sindhu, or a Neeraj Chopra is countable. 

When at one corner, it is justified to be upset knowing that Indian dominance has been restricted, then at the other corner, another question gets tossed—why does India need going-to-be-abolished events to prove its excellence? 

India, which takes pride in being a sporting excellence and a country that tried to push cricket hard in the Olympics, should think if it's really dominant or not.

Does Commonwealth participation assure greatness?

Usain Bolt, at his peak point in his career, decided to participate only in the 4x100m relay in Glasgow (2014). Not only that, he was nowhere in New Delhi (2010) too, despite India's desperate request to have him.

Sir Chris Hoy, too, stayed away from the Delhi games because a win wouldn't have added any decorated feather to his already stellar career.

In the harshest reality, a hundred medals won't assure at least 50 medals in the Asian Games itself. Olympics are out of reach!

Medal tally for India in CWG, in its popular sport

In a blow to India's medal chances at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, host city Glasgow has dropped cricket from the Games due to low budget. Glasgow has selected and shortlisted budget-friendly sports for the Games.

Also Read: Top 3 Cricket stadiums in India with better drainage system

Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Katie Sadleir said in a statement, "The 2026 Games will be a bridge to the Commonwealth Games of tomorrow - an exciting first step in our journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible and sustainable model for the future that minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact - in doing so increasing the scope of countries capable of hosting."

10 events will be played in 2026 Commonwealth Games

Hockey, badminton, wrestling, shooting, Table tennis, squash, and triathlon have also been dropped to limit the budget and streamline logistics. Only four venues in Glasgow will host the entire Games. The total number of events at the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be ten, fewer than the 2022 Birmingham edition.

Among the sports that have been removed from the Commonwealth Games, India had finished on the podium in the previous edition in Birmingham in 2022. India had won 61 medals, including 22 gold, in the last edition of the Games. 12 in wrestling, seven each in boxing and table tennis, six in badminton, two each in hockey and squash and one in cricket – more than half of the total medals.

Cricket was re-introduced after 24-year gap

Cricket was re-introduced after a 24-year gap in the Commonwealth Games 2022 in which the Indian women's team won the silver medal. Australia won the gold, beating India in the final, and New Zealand won the bronze. Back in 1998, South Africa had won the men's 50-over gold, with Australia winning silver and New Zealand winning bronze.

The 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games will start from July 23 in 2026 and will continue till August 2 in Glasgow, Scotland, returning to the city 12 years after the hugely successful 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Also Read: Neetu David: The Spin Queen of Indian Women’s Cricket Immortalized in the ICC Hall of Fame

Reason behind the exclusion of these sports

The 2026 Commonwealth Games were earlier to be held in Sydney, Australia, but the Kangaroo country had backed out citing financial constraints as the reason. Then Glasgow had shown interest in these games with some conditions, it had presented a plan to organize these games with fewer games, which was approved by the Commonwealth Federation, that is why 6 games have been excluded.