Eliminate popular sports like hockeybadminton, wrestling and table tennis from the Commonwealth Games (CWG) program for Glasgow 2026 has led to a strong reaction from several world governing bodies 11 sports that have been axed as well as former athletes.
Announcing Glasgow as the host for the 2026 edition of the CWG on Tuesday, the Commonwealth Games Federation the statement read, “The 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games will take place in Scotland from Thursday 23 July to Sunday 2 August 2026 … It will feature a program of 10 sports concentrated in four places in a corridor of eight miles.”
The 10 sports that are included in the program are athletics and athletics (track & field), swimming and swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling and para track cycling, netball, weightlifting and powerlifting, boxing, judo, bowling and para . bowls, and 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball.
That leaves hockey, cricket, badminton, wrestling, table tennis, diving, rugby sevens, beach volleyball, mountain biking, squash and rhythmic gymnastics out of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Several athletes and federations have expressed concern over the decision.
INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY FEDERATION (FIH)
“When the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) had to confirm the new host for the 2026 Games in a short period of time after the resignation of the Victorian Government and when we noted that the new concept for 2026 has been reduced, in essence. offering only 10 sports, we are all disappointed by the decision CGF is not hockey in the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games program that sport has been played in every Commonwealth Games since 1998, something we are very proud of with the red from 19 to 10 sports compared to the last edition of the Games, Hockey is therefore in the same situation as 8 other sports.
However, the CGF has been very clear in various exchanges with the FIH that this decision is exceptional, and related to the challenging nature of this particular edition of the Commonwealth Games.
The CGF stressed that this decision will not affect the inclusion of hockey in this edition of the Commonwealth Games and that the FIH remains a key partner and friend in the history and future of the Commonwealth movement.
As the CGF has confirmed that hockey remains an important sport for the Federation, its members and the Commonwealth movement, we welcome the invitation to discuss further opportunities for hockey with the Commonwealth movement in the future.
KALIKESH SINGH DEO, President, National Rifle Association of India
“It’s disappointing shooting not yet included. It will be a very different Commonwealth Games with many popular Olympic sports not included in the watered down version of the Games.”
GAGAN NARANG (ex-shooter), 2012 Olympic bronze medalist
“I’m definitely disappointed the shooting is not part CWG 2026 in Glasgow. Our sport has been absent from the CWG since 2018 and when Victoria hosted, shooting was introduced and has now been removed. I can imagine the disappointment for shooters preparing for this event. I am also disappointed that some other disciplines, which are medal prospects for India, are not in the list of disciplines for CWG 2026.
While I like the ten sports that are included. The international and national sports federations that do not miss the list also work hard to organize sports in their own countries and the athletes have given their best to prepare for this prestigious event. games.
The CWG has always been a marquee event in the Indian sporting calendar and it would be a shame to see the Games watered down with less discipline in Glasgow 2026.
WORLD SQUASH FEDERATION & SCOTTISH SQUASH
“The World Squash Federation (WSF) and Squash Scotland are deeply disappointed by the news that squash will not be one of the ten sports contested at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Squash, which will make its Olympic debut at the LA28 Olympics, has been a core sport at the Commonwealth Games since it was first contested in Kuala Lumpur 1998.
However, despite the existing infrastructure in Scotstoun after the excellent squash competition at the Glasgow 2014 Games, it is disappointing that squash was not submitted for inclusion after the number of sports was reduced from 19 in 2022 due to exceptional circumstances in 2026. Commonwealth Games.
This decision is especially frustrating for Scotland and the Commonwealth’s top squash players, who work tirelessly to represent the country in the main game.
The WSF and Scottish Squash remain committed to supporting these athletes by providing them with the best possible competitive opportunity to improve their skills and proudly represent their country.
Representatives from the WSF and Scottish Squash have received assurances that this decision for the condensed event in 2026 will not affect the inclusion of squash into the Commonwealth Games in the future.
(Collected from various sources)