Daijiworld Media Network - Glasgow
Glasgow, Jul 22: India will look to extend its two-decade streak of finishing among the top five nations at the Commonwealth Games when the 2026 edition gets underway in Glasgow on Thursday, with athletics, boxing and weightlifting expected to shoulder the country's medal hopes.
The opening ceremony at the OVO Hydro will mark the start of what is set to be the smallest Commonwealth Games in more than 30 years. Around 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories will compete in just 10 sports across four venues, with six sports also featuring integrated para events.
Glasgow stepped in as host after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew in 2023 due to escalating costs. Having previously hosted the Games in 2014, the Scottish city is staging this edition on a significantly reduced budget by utilising existing venues and infrastructure.
For India, the trimmed sporting programme presents a major challenge. The exclusion of wrestling, badminton, table tennis and shooting has significantly reduced the country's medal prospects. These four disciplines accounted for 25 of India's 61 medals at the Birmingham Games in 2022.
India has finished among the top five in every Commonwealth Games since Manchester 2002, but maintaining that record will largely depend on performances in athletics, boxing and weightlifting.
The athletics contingent, comprising the maximum permitted 32 athletes, will compete in 22 medal events. Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra will spearhead India's campaign in the men's javelin throw, where he faces strong competition from Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga and Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem.
India will also look to Sarvesh Kushare (high jump), Murali Sreeshankar (long jump), Praveen Chithravel (triple jump) and the men's and women's 4x400m relay teams for podium finishes.
In weightlifting, Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu will aim for a third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal. However, India's squad has been reduced to 11 lifters following recent doping cases, limiting medal opportunities in one of the country's strongest disciplines.
Boxing will feature several leading Indian contenders, including Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain, reigning world champion Jaismine Lamboria, Asian champion Preeti Pawar, Sakshi Chaudhary, Arundhati Choudhary, Narender Berwal and Sachin Siwach.
India will also pin hopes on its lawn bowls teams to replicate their historic success from Birmingham, while the judo contingent aims to improve on its previous medal tally. The country's para athletes are also expected to make a significant contribution, with para competitions now integrated into six sports.
Although matching the 61 medals won at Birmingham appears difficult due to the reduced schedule, India will be aiming to once again secure a place among the top five nations and reaffirm its strength across Olympic and para sports.