India’s campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow gets underway with a 190-member contingent comprising 125 athletes, 51 coaches and support staff, and 14 contingent officials.
The Games present a significantly different challenge from the 2022 Birmingham edition. While India fielded 210 athletes and secured 61 medals, including 22 gold, in Birmingham, the Glasgow programme has been reduced from 19 sports to just 10. Several disciplines that have traditionally contributed heavily to India’s medal tally—including badminton, wrestling, hockey, table tennis, cricket and squash—have been dropped. Those six sports alone accounted for 30 of India’s medals in Birmingham.
Despite the reduced programme, India enters the competition with several strong gold medal prospects.
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra returns to the Commonwealth Games after missing the Birmingham edition due to injury. The 2018 Commonwealth champion will renew his rivalry with Pakistan’s reigning Olympic and Commonwealth champion Arshad Nadeem in one of the marquee athletics events. The field also features Sri Lanka’s world-leading javelin thrower Rumesh Pathirage, making the competition one of the highlights of the Games.
India’s athletics squad is further strengthened by long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, who won silver in Birmingham, and high jumper Sarvesh Kushare, who recently set a new national record of 2.31 metres before finishing third at the Monaco Diamond League. Other athletes expected to challenge for podium finishes include Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Parul Chaudhary, Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Gulveer Singh.
In weightlifting, Mirabai Chanu will spearhead India’s campaign as she aims to win her fourth Commonwealth Games medal and secure a third consecutive gold medal.
India’s boxing team also features several medal contenders, including Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain, Sakshi Chaudhary, Preeti Pawar and Jaismine Lamboria.
The Indian contingent spans multiple generations. Lawn bowler Dinesh Kumar Singh, aged 49, is the oldest athlete in the squad, while Lisha Das, a 16-year-old para cyclist, is the youngest.
Events will be held across several venues, including Scotstoun Stadium, the Scottish Event Campus, the Glasgow International Arena and the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
With Ahmedabad set to host the centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, the Glasgow edition offers India not only an opportunity to add to its medal tally but also valuable experience ahead of welcoming the Commonwealth sporting community to home soil.
