Low-Budget Commonwealth Games 2026 slashes India's key sports, threatening medal count

Mention the Commonwealth Games and the first reaction at home will be the scandals of the 2010 edition held in New Delhi. On Tuesday, it seemed even more scandalous, the hosts of the 2026 CWG in Glasgow have removed key disciplines like wrestling, badminton, cricket and hockey.

This means India's medal tally at the Commonwealth Games 2026 will come down massively from 61. Nothing can be done about it, really. There have been protests in the past and it meant nothing. This time, too, any protest will be futile since Glasgow is operating on a low-cost budget and they had hinted the Games would be compressed.

Frankly speaking, the CWG does not have too much relevance to the sporting world today. Fact is, once Victoria State in Australia pulled out as hosts last year, the Commonwealth Games Federation had to go around with a begging bowl.

After many countries, Singapore included, refused to host the CWG in 2026, the CGF went to Victoria for a financial bail-out package. If not, for Birmingham in 2022 and four years hence Glasgow to be host makes no sense. That these CWG will be on is a miracle and India should stop paying too much attention to it.

For a nation which wants to host the 2036 Olympics, India should focus more on winning big medals at the Asian Games and subsequent editions of the Olympics. Yes, the CWG has an emotional connection with India but these Games serve little purpose.

In fact, even in the past, it was felt the CWG should be treated as an opportunity for the second-string sides to be groomed, as is the case in cricket. Money spent on CWG preparation plus cash awards given later cost a lot. However, India has not been able to distance itself fully from the CWG.

There will be a dip in medal tally in Glasgow as the sporting disciplines are reduced. Add to it the Asian Games as well in 2026, to be held in Nagoya, Japan, there has to be more thought into planning by India. When CGF President Chris Jenkins came to India after the Paris Olympics, he had met Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha.

At that instance itself it became clear the CGF wanted to be 'friends' with India as the Commonwealth Movement in sports needs India more. It was also surprising Jenkins was talking of the 2030 CWG.

India is seen as a destination for many sports leagues. However, the CWG is no longer glamorous for Indian sports. Standards in it in many disciplines are low. In the past, many medals won were sub-standard, given the quality of opponents. It is a Catch-22 situation for India. They cannot say no to the CWG all of a sudden.

The sooner people realise the CWG is a second-string competition in more events, the better. Maybe in athletics and swimming, the standards are high. Many disciplines are irrelevant to India in Glasgow. Who will point this out?