India urges Commonwealth Games Federation to include Kabaddi as medal sport

Inclusion in the quadrennial tournament will make the sport more popular.

During the two-day Commonwealth Games Federation Asia and Oceania Regional Meet, which began in Brisbane on Sunday, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) requested the addition of kabaddi as a medal sport in the Commonwealth Games. In addition to kabaddi, the Indian delegation, led by IOA president PT Usha, suggested that archery and wrestling be included in the quadrennial tournament. Kabaddi has never been included in the Commonwealth Games schedule. However, the sport has been featured on a regular basis at the Asian Games, where Indian kabaddi teams have been dominant.

Indian kabaddi team has already spread its glory at Asian Games

The Indian men's kabaddi team has won seven gold medals and one bronze at the Asian Games, while the women's team has won two gold medals and one silver. Wrestling, which has appeared in four consecutive Commonwealth Games since 2010, has been eliminated from the Victoria 2026 Games.  

Wrestling has been one of India's most successful Commonwealth Games sports. In terms of awards. India ranks third all-time in medals with 114 (49 gold, 39 silver, and 26 bronze). Indian wrestlers won the most medals (six golds, one silver, and five bronze) at Birmingham 2022.  Archery, on the other hand, has only been in the Commonwealth Games twice (1982 and 2010), and India ranks second in the all-time medal total with eight medals(three golds, one silver, and four bronze).

Commonwealth Games Australia has already revealed the entire sports schedule for the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games, which includes 20 sports and 26 disciplines, including nine fully integrated para-sports. After being omitted from the 2022 Birmingham Games, the shooting will return in 2026. With 135 medals (63 golds, 44 silvers, and 28 bronzes), the sport has been India's strongest at the Commonwealth Games.

In Brisbane, the Indian delegation led by PT Usha met with CGF president Louise Martin and her colleagues to discuss the growth of Indian sports. 

“I welcome the steps taken on the return of shooting in the 2026 Victoria Commonwealth Games,” PT Usha said. “At the same time, we have sought the intervention of the CGF leadership to make archery, wrestling, and kabaddi as part of the Games competition roster in the future.”