The Commonwealth Games 2026 are ongoing in Glasgow and Team India has already earned its first medal. While the country’s campaign has just begun, it is already obvious that this version of the Games is unique compared to the previous ones. Historically, India has always performed remarkably at the Commonwealth Games, finishing 4th at the Birmingham 2022, having earned a total of 61 medals, but Glasgow 2026 will be a new venture for India. The edition has ruled out a number of sports that India has been famous for winning medals in. And therefore, it will remain to be seen how many medals India earns.
Commonwealth games 2026: India Finally Opens Its Medal Tally
Para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar brought the first medal for Indiain CommonWealth Games 2026, taking bronze in the Men’s Heavyweight class. With this medal, he has created an example for other athletes to follow. Born in Bihar, Kumar faced many financial difficulties and worked as a vegetable vendor and e-rickshaw driver before achieving international acclaim for his abilities. This bronze medal will be a great start for Indian athletes. Apart from medals, Indian athletes have performed very well in sports like boxing, lawn ball, swimming, and gymnastics.Putul Sonowal, for instance, continued his impressive run in lawn bowls with another victory in the sectional stage.
Why Can India Win fewer Medals This Time ?
Although India has sent its best players in the Commonwealth Games 2026, it is expected to have fewer medals than before. When the Victorian state government pulled out of the Games, the Scottish city of Glasgow rushed in as the replacement. To ensure the Games are financially viable, organisers have cut down the number of sports from the previous editions of the Games to only 10. As a result, several sports have been omitted in which India has been traditionally good
Medal Winning Sports Missing From Glasgow
Among the biggest omissions from Commonwealth games 2026 are:
- Wrestling
- Badminton
- Hockey
- Cricket
- Table Tennis
- Shooting
- Squash
- Rugby Sevens
- Triathlon
- Beach Volleyball
- Road Cycling events
These are not just any sports they have consistently contributed a major share of India’s Commonwealth Games medals. Wrestling alone has been one of India’s most successful disciplines over the years, while badminton, table tennis and hockey have regularly produced multiple podium finishes.
This means that comparing India’s Glasgow medal tally with Birmingham 2022 would be misleading, as many of the country’s strongest events are simply not being contested.
Where Can India Still Win Medals At Commonwealth Games 2026 ?
Even with a reduced programme, India remains a serious contender in several disciplines.
Boxing continues to be one of India’s strongest medal prospects, with experienced names such as Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain leading the campaign. The country’s women’s boxing squad, in particular, is expected to challenge for multiple medals as the knockout rounds begin.
Weightlifting is another discipline where India has consistently excelled, with Mirabai Chanu among the leading gold medal hopes. Athletics is also expected to boost India’s tally once competition begins, with Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra aiming to continue his remarkable run on the international stage.
India will also look towards para powerlifting, lawn bowls, artistic gymnastics and swimming, where athletes have already shown encouraging signs during the opening days.
Story is Bigger Than Medals
The Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 are not just about numbers. They stand for a turning point for the Commonwealth Games.
With lesser sports, an adventurous timetable, and various para-sport events. The 2026 edition has adopted a new format in comparison with previous Games. This change will automatically affect the expectations for countries like India, which boast of their strengths in many sports.
The success of India could not be judged just by the number of medals as the performance of the sportsmen in the available disciplines may tell more about the success.
What To Watch Next
India’s medal hopes are expected to grow as the Commonwealth Games 2026 enter their decisive phase. In the forthcoming days, various medal events, such as boxing, weightlifting, athletics, bowls, artistic gymnastics, and swimming, will take place. And Indian players are expected to get a medal in some of them. However, the Indian efforts should be analyzed within the overall context of the event, which represents a very different Commonwealth Games. This time, in Glasgow, the organizers have limited the number of events to ten. Thereby excluding popular sports among Indian participants such as wrestling, badminton, hockey, table tennis, shooting, and cricket. Traditionally, these sports have contributed greatly to the medals tally of India, which makes the current comparison a little biased.
Although Jhandu Kumar managed to earn a bronze, the best performances are still ahead for India. In Glasgow, every medal gained has its own cost, as there are fewer events this time compared to previous occasions. With the competition heating, India’s medal tally will depend not only on the number of earned medals but also on how efficient the athletes would be in demonstrating their performance in fewer opportunities.
