For the first time in recent history, the Commonwealth Games will feature only 10 sports instead of the 19 contested at the Birmingham 2022 edition, a move driven largely by financial constraints after Australia's Victoria state withdrew as host in 2023 because of spiralling costs.
Glasgow, which stepped in at short notice, opted for a compact Games using existing venues and infrastructure, resulting in the exclusion of nine disciplines and substantially reducing India's medal opportunities. Despite the trimmed programme, India will still field several of its biggest sporting stars, including Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu, who will spearhead the country's challenge across athletics and weightlifting.
However, fans will miss the presence of several established names such as PV Sindhu, Manu Bhaker, Harmanpreet Singh, Aman Sehrawat and the Indian hockey teams, as their respective sports are no longer part of the Games.
The Glasgow edition will feature athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, 3×3 basketball, lawn bowls, netball, artistic gymnastics, judo and boxing, while para events will be conducted in athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, lawn bowls and basketball. Missing from the programme are badminton, cricket, hockey, squash, table tennis, triathlon, wrestling, beach volleyball and rugby sevens.
The exclusions are expected to have a major impact on India's overall medal tally.
At the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, India finished fourth with 61 medals. Nearly half of those - 30 medals - came from sports that have now been removed from the schedule, including wrestling (12), table tennis (7), badminton (6), hockey (2), squash (2) and cricket (1). Furthermore, almost 47 per cent of India's 210-member contingent in Birmingham competed in sports that will not feature in Glasgow.
Even among the disciplines that remain, India's prospects appear less certain than four years ago. Boxing, judo and weightlifting, which together contributed 20 medals in Birmingham, have witnessed inconsistent performances in recent international competitions, including the Paris Olympics, where several former Commonwealth medallists either failed to qualify or finished below expectations.
Glasgow's return as host city comes under extraordinary circumstances. After Victoria's withdrawal, organisers were left with limited time to prepare a replacement Games.
To minimise expenditure, the event will be staged across four existing venues, with athletes and officials staying in hotels rather than a purpose-built Commonwealth Games Village. The scaled-back format is being viewed as a cost-saving model amid growing concerns over the financial burden of hosting large multi-sport events.
Although India's medal tally is expected to decline significantly, there remains optimism in athletics, where the country's fortunes have improved considerably over recent years. Chopra headlines a strong athletics squad, with a possible renewal of his rivalry against Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem emerging as one of the marquee attractions of the Games.
The Commonwealth Games also serve as an important stepping stone for emerging athletes, offering international exposure, government cash awards and sponsorship opportunities. The absence of sports such as wrestling, table tennis and badminton is therefore expected to affect not only India's medal count but also the career progression and financial prospects of many young athletes.
With India scheduled to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, the Glasgow edition assumes added significance as the nation begins preparations for staging the event on home soil. However, for now, Indian supporters may have to temper expectations as the country's considerably smaller contingent competes in a heavily condensed Commonwealth Games programme, where medal opportunities are fewer than ever before. (Agencies)