Jarmanpreet Singh Terms Hockey's Exclusion from 2026 Commonwealth Games a 'Big Shock'

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New Delhi, Oct 23: Indian hockey defender Jarmanpreet Singh on Tuesday (October 22) expressed his disappointment over the Commonwealth Games Federation's (CGF) decision to remove hockey from the 2026 Commonwealth Games (CWG) roster.

Singh, who played a key role in India's bronze-medal triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympics, admitted the move will significantly impact India's medal prospects in the Games.

A Big Shock for Indian Hockey

In an exclusive interview with Mykhel, the 28-year-old Jarmanpreet voiced his concerns about the development, calling it "disappointing." He emphasized that hockey holds a special place in the Commonwealth Games and that players eagerly wait for the opportunity to represent their country in this event.

"It is definitely disappointing because hockey has been an important discipline in the CWG, and we players eagerly wait to compete in this competition. I think the stakeholders involved should reconsider their decision, and efforts should be made to bring back hockey into the CWG 2026," Singh said.

Indian Coach and Captain Shift Focus to Germany Series

While the hockey community digests the news of the exclusion, Indian men's head coach Craig Fulton stressed that the team's immediate focus is on their upcoming series against Germany. "It is what it is. Unfortunately, and at the same time, we are thinking about the upcoming series vs Germany. That's further down the line, so currently, the focus is on playing Germany," Fulton said.

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh regarded as one of the best defenders and drag-flickers in the world, echoed similar sentiments during the pre-match press conference. Harmanpreet admitted that missing out on the CWG would be a setback, especially since India was targeting gold in the 2026 edition. However, he insisted that the team remains focused on delivering strong performances against Germany, ranked second in the world.

"I came to know just now. Me and the coach were on the same page, focusing on playing Germany. We were targeting CWG as well-it was a big tournament, and our goal this time was to win gold. But unfortunately, it won't happen now. These things are not in our hands, so we can't do much," Harmanpreet told reporters at the National Hockey Stadium in New Delhi.

CWG 2026: India's Medal Hopes Take a Hit

The exclusion of several popular sports, including hockey, shooting, cricket, badminton, and wrestling, from the Glasgow 2026 CWG roster came as a major blow to the Indian sporting fraternity.

After Victoria, Australia, pulled out as the host due to escalating costs, the Games were relocated to Glasgow, but with a much smaller program consisting of only 10 core sports-nine fewer than the 2022 edition in Birmingham.

Hockey's absence, in particular, has frustrated Indian athletes and officials. Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh urged the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to intervene and ensure the issue is addressed. "Most of the medal-winning sports for India have been dropped. The IOA should take up the matter. On our part, we have put our grievances to the FIH, and they are taking up the matter with the CGF," Singh told PTI.

FIH Expresses Disappointment Over the Decision

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) also expressed deep dissatisfaction with the decision, pointing out that hockey has been a part of the Commonwealth Games since 1998.

"Whilst we've taken note that the new concept for 2026 has been downsized, with a core offering of only 10 sports, we're all the more disappointed by the CGF's decision...our sport has been played at every Commonwealth Games since 1998, something we are very proud of," the FIH said in a statement.

While the exclusion will impact India's overall medal tally in future Games, stakeholders remain hopeful that efforts to reinstate hockey in the CWG will bear fruit. For now, all eyes are on the upcoming series against Germany, where the Indian team, ranked fifth, will look to restore pride on home turf and build momentum for future competitions.