New Delhi: Badminton Association of India (BAI) secretary Sanjay Mishra has expressed his disappointment to major sports being excluded from the 2026 Commonwealth Games and said that it feels like a "conspiracy to sideline India's rising sporting potential".
The 23rd edition of the CWG is set to be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, 2026, and will feature only 10 sports.

The Glasgow 2026 sports list is significantly leaner than Birmingham 2022 with the exclusions of hockey, cricket, badminton, wrestling, table tennis, squash. Shooting, which was also dropped from the Birmingham 2022 CWG programme, is still out.

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"It's shocking and a huge setback for Indian sports, with nearly 40 medals at risk from the dropped events. This isn't just a loss for sports and sportspersons; it feels like a conspiracy to sideline India's rising sporting potential in the region," BAI secretary said in a statement.

In badminton, India have won an impressive 31 medals, including 10 gold, eight silver, and 13 bronze. Notably, India were to enter the 2026 edition as defending champions in men’s and women’s singles, as well as men’s doubles.

"The Badminton Association of India stands firmly in protest and will be reaching out to all relevant authorities at the Commonwealth and BWF, as well as the highest levels of government in the country, to advocate for the future of Indian sports," he added.

The omission of the major sports is a major blow to India's medal hopes in 2026. Shooting and wrestling have been the biggest medal sports for India at the Commonwealth Games since their inception.

Field hockey’s exclusion also means the sport will be missing from the quadrennial event for the first time since the sport made its debut in the CWG back in 1998.

India won 61 medals, including 22 gold. Wrestling (12), weightlifting (10), athletics (8), boxing, and table tennis (7 each) contributed the most to the overall tally.

NRAI, Gagan Narang left 'disappointed' after shooting dropped from CWG 2026

New Delhi: The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) and Olympic medallist shooter Gagan Narang have expressed their 'disappointment' on the shooting's exclusion from the 2026 Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Glasgow.   

Shooting made its debut in the 1996 CWG and has been on the list since then except for 1970 and the last edition in Birmingham. Shooting has been one of India's medal-taking sports in the Games. India have won 135 medals in shooting in the Games so far. The tally includes 63 gold, 44 silver and 28 bronze.

"It is disappointing that shooting hasn’t been included in the CWG. This will be a very different Commonwealth Games with many popular Olympic sports not included in what will be a watered-down version of the Games. We can only wish those who will participate all the best. The Govt of India, Ministry of Sports  IOA did everything possible to include sports which India are traditionally strong in. NRAI offered to host the shooting part of the games in India subject to relevant approvals. In the end, we should rally around and appreciate Scotland’s effort in hosting the Games," the NRAI said in a statement.

The 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist shooter Gagan Narang said the decision would leave shooters disappointed, who were preparing for the quadrennial event.

"I am certainly disappointed that shooting is not part of CWG 2026 in Glasgow. Our sport has been out of CWG since 2018 and when Victoria was to host it, shooting was included and now it’s been removed. I can imagine the disappointment for shooters who were preparing for this event. I am also disappointed that few more disciplines which are medal prospects for India don’t figure in the list of disciplines for CWG 2026," he wrote on X.

"While I am happy for the ten sports included. The respective international and national federations whose sports missed the cut off list have also been working tirelessly to administer the sport in their respective countries and the athletes have been giving their absolute best to prepare for these prestigious games.

"CWG has always been a marquee event in the Indian sporting calendar and it is disheartening to see the Games being watered down with fewer disciplines in the coming up in Glasgow 2026," he added.

Besides shooting, other major sports dropped from the programme are hockey, badminton, cricket, badminton, wrestling, table tennis and squash.

The 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games will take place in Scotland from July 23 to August 2, 2026 returning to the city 12 years after the hugely successful 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The sports programme will include Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & Field), Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para Bowls, and 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball. (IANS)