Commonwealth Games 2026: Which major sports are not part of Glasgow CWG?

Commonwealth Games 2026 will look very different from previous Games, with several major sports missing from the programme.

The Indian contingent has been quite successful at the Commonwealth Games, where athletes from multiple sports compete to win medals.

The upcoming CWG 2026 in Glasgow will look quite different from previous editions, as major sporting events like shooting, wrestling, badminton, cricket, and hockey are not part of this year’s Games.

Many athletes and fans raised concerns about this decision, especially in India, where these sports have played a major role in the country’s medal tally.

Why are several major sports not part of CWG 2026?

One of the biggest reasons behind these sports’ absence from the Commonwealth Games 2026 is cost management.

Initially, Victoria were set to host the Commonwealth Games, but it later withdrew due to rising costs, leaving the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) looking for an alternative.

Glasgow stepped forward to host the Games, but it sought a more financially sustainable model. To control costs, the organisers reduced the number of events, which will be held at four existing stadiums in a compact area.

As a result, only 10 sports are now part of the final program, compared with the 19 sporting events held during the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

The sports which will be a part of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are: Athletics and Para Athletics, Swimming and Para Swimming, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Artistic Gymnastics, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Netball, Lawn Bowls and Para Bowls, 3×3 Basketball and Wheelchair 3×3 Basketball.

Although these sports have helped ensure the Games maintain their multi-sport nature, the limited schedule has played a major role in determining which sports are fan favourites.

Why is shooting not part of Glasgow CWG?

The Indian shooters have been quite successful during these multi-sport events. They have won more than 100 medals over the last few years and have performed consistently in this tournament.

However, shooting was not part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham either, and now it has been excluded from Glasgow as well. The biggest reason for this is the lack of a proper stadium for shooting in the compact hosting model used by Glasgow.

Setting up updated facilities for just one sport did increase operational costs, which the organisers wanted to avoid. As far as India is concerned, the absence of shooting has deprived the country of its strongest medal-winning event at the Games. Has wrestling been dropped?

Wrestling is another sport in which India has consistently won medals at this multi-sport event. Indian wrestlers have won double-digit medal hauls across different weight categories. During the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, almost all Indian wrestlers won medals, demonstrating their dominance in the sport.

But still, wrestling is not part of the Glasgow Games due to venue and logistical constraints. Since the organisers prioritised streamlining the event’s structure, several other sports requiring special competitive arrangements were overlooked.

The decision was seen as a huge blow for the Indian wrestlers, as many of them considered the Commonwealth Games a real chance to win international medals.

Why is Badminton missing from CWG 2026?

The Indian shuttlers have been quite successful in the Commonwealth Games over the last few years. Players like PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth have helped the country become one of the most consistent badminton sides in this tournament. They have consistently won medals in singles, doubles, and team events.

But still, badminton is not part of the Glasgow Games owing to the limited number of sports events. The 26th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will be held across a limited number of stadiums and events.

The organisers chose these sports based on operational feasibility, venue availability, and budget, which is why badminton was dropped despite its popularity.

This shows that many top Indian shuttlers won’t be able to participate in the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Have other sports been excluded?

Besides shooting, wrestling, and badminton, the other sports that are not part of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are: cricket, hockey, table tennis, squash, rugby sevens, beach volleyball, diving, mountain biking, rhythmic gymnastics, and triathlon.

Its omission is notable, as this sport has been part of the Commonwealth Games since 1998. At the same time, cricket has been excluded after just making a comeback to the Games during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

These limited events will play a huge role in India’s medal tally. India’s key sporting events in these Games—shooting, wrestling, badminton, table tennis, and hockey—are not part of the tournament this year. These sports accounted for a large share of India’s medal tally at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

For this reason, the Indian contingent for the upcoming Games is quite small, as the country’s medal tally will depend on athletics, boxing, weightlifting, judo, and a few other sports.

Although Indian athletes can still prove their worth during the Asian Games and the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games have given them opportunities to win international medals and gain much-needed experience.

The 26th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have now leaned towards a more compact and cost-cutting model. Although this idea helped save the future of this tournament after Victoria withdrew from hosting, it has led to the omission of multiple high-profile sporting events.

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