Due to financial limitations, the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, will include just ten sports instead of the previous editions. It is anticipated that this significant cut, which will take effect for the July 23–August 2, 2026 tournament, would have a significant influence on India’s medal chances.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have eliminated important sports like hockey, badminton, shooting, and wrestling, where Indian athletes have historically excelled, drastically hurting India’s chances of winning medals.

Since the whole extravaganza will only be held in four locations, table tennis, squash, and triathlon have all been eliminated in an effort to save costs and simplify logistics. Compared to the Birmingham edition in 2022, there will be nine fewer events overall during the Games.

“The sports program 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 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball,” the Commonwealth Games Federation stated in a statement.

Four locations—Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena, which includes the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC)—will host the Games. Hotel accommodations will be provided for athletes and support personnel,” it said.

Given that the majority of India’s medals in previous editions come from the eliminated disciplines, the roster is a significant blow to the nation’s medal hopes. Due to logistical reasons, shooting was never supposed to resume after being removed from the Birmingham program four years before.

“Glasgow 2026 will feature a 10-sport program concentrated across four venues within an eight-mile corridor,” the CGF said while releasing the Glasgow calendar.

Since the Barry Buddon Centre in Dundee, the location of the 2014 CWG, is more than 100 kilometers from Glasgow, shooting was ruled off the roster. Archery was also still disregarded. The 2010 Delhi Games were the last time the sport was played at the Games.

The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and Glasgow Green, which hosted wrestling and hockey in 2014, have been removed from the list of venues. Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, which hosted badminton last year, will only be used for cycling this time.

In addition to the expense, hockey’s absence may result from the Games’ proximity to the World Cup, which is set for two weeks later in Wavre, Belgium, and Amstelveen, the Netherlands, from August 15 to 30.

Due to increasing expenses, the Australian state of Victoria, which was originally scheduled to host the 2026 edition, withdrew last year. The Games were then saved by Scotland.

For India, hockey’s exclusion from the Games would be a serious setback. The women’s team has excelled, winning three medals, including a remarkable gold at the 2002 Games, while the men’s team has won three silver and two bronze.

India has won an astounding 31 medals in badminton, including 10 gold, 8 silver, and 13 bronze. Notably, the country planned to join the 2026 tournament as the reigning champions in both the men’s and women’s singles and men’s doubles categories.

With an incredible 135 medals under its belt, shooting was a strength for India. There were 63 gold, 44 silver, and 28 bronze in the count. The country has won 114 medals from the wrestling tournament, including 26 bronze, 39 silver, and 49 gold.

When cricket was brought back in 2022, the Indian women’s team won a silver medal. Since the Manchester Games in 2002, para-athletes have participated in the Games, and they will be present again in 2026.

“Para sport will once again be fully integrated as a key priority and point of difference for the Games, with six Para sports included on the sports program,” the CGF said.

According to the CGF, the Games will bring in more than 100 million pounds of “inward investment into the city” and are anticipated to boost the local economy by more than 150 million pounds.

All of this, the organization said, would be made possible by a model “that has been specially designed to not require public funding for the delivery of the Games.”

“The 2026 Games will be a bridge to the Commonwealth Games of tomorrow—an exciting first step in our journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible and sustainable model for the future that minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact,” Katie Sadleir, CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said in the announcement.