Commonwealth Games 2026 drops wrestling, cricket, hockey and other major sports

In what may be a setback for the Indian contingent eyeing glory in forthcoming Commonwealth Games, wrestling, badminton, hockey, cricket and shooting among major sports have been excluded from 2026 Glasgow schedule.

Further, table tennis, triathalon and squash have also been dropped.

Glasgow on Tuesday unveiled a pruned roster of 10 disciplines to keep the event budget-friendly.


The quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations, is scheduled to commence from July 23 to August 2, marking Glasgow's return as host after 12 years, following the 2014 edition.

"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," the Commonwealth Games Federation said in a statement.

"The Games will take place across four venues -- Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena – including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). Athletes and support staff will be housed in hotel accommodation," it added.

Setback to India

The schedule for 2026 Games is a massive setback to India's medal prospects given that bulk of the country's medals came from the removed disciplines in the past editions.

However, shooting was never expected to return after being dropped from the Birmingham programme four years ago, owing to logistics.

India had a terrific campaign at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where it grabbed a total of 61 medals (22 gold, 16 silver, 23 bronze), finishing fourth on the tally. Notably, India won the most medals in wrestling (12), weightlifting (10), athletics (8), boxing, and table tennis (7 each).

With an overall total of 564 medals (203 gold, 190 silver, 171 bronze), the subcontinent is ranked 4th at the All-time Commonwealth Games medal table.