Wrestling, a sport in which India had systematically excelled, may be dropped from the roster, which would have been a blow to single wrestling powerhouse nations like India.
Speaking at a National Sports Federation NSF meeting with CGF officials, Singh emphasized wrestling is important, not just for India but for other nations that have an alcoholic comportment in the sport.
However, the conclusion rests with the host nation, Scotland, which is set to host the 2026 Games following Victoria’s withdrawal.
At the 2022 Birmingham Games, India captured 12 wrestling medals, including six golds, making wrestling a top contributor to the country’s medal haul.
| Event | Wrestling Medals | Golds | Total Medals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham 2022 | 12 | 6 | 61 |
Scotland had shown small ebullience for retaining wrestling, a sport that had historically not garnered much tending in the UK.
Wrestling’s Rich History in Commonwealth Games
Image Credit: CNBC TV18
Key Takeaways
- Wrestling’s inclusion in the 2026 CWG is uncertain as Scotland shows little interest in the sport.
- India has won 114 wrestling medals at the CWG, with 12 medals in the 2022 Birmingham Games.
- Shooting’s return to the 2026 Games may offset the impact of wrestling’s exclusion.
- Final decision on wrestling’s inclusion lies with Scotland, leaving India’s wrestling future in limbo.
India’s success in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games has been undeniable. Wrestling has been part of the CWG roll in the last three editions as well as with Indian wrestlers winning a total of 114 medals as of the 2022 edition.
At the 2022 Birmingham Games,’ India captured 12 wrestling medals, six of which were gold,’ making wrestling one of the top contributors to the country’s medal tally.
The sport had systematically bolstered India’s boilersuit performance contributing importantly to its standing on the world stage.
In the 2022 edition, out of India’s 22 gold medals, six were claimed by wrestlers. Wrestling’s control was followed by table tennis 4 golds and boxing 3 golds.
India’s medal tally in Birmingham was 61 medals, as well as making wrestling a major decider in the nation’s success.
such a legacy, the omission of wrestling from the 2026 CWG could have impacted India’s execution and medal standing.
However as well as wrestling’s rising at the Commonwealth Games seems uncertain. The sport was excluded from the Games in 2006,’ when hoops took its place, and it was also removed in 1998 to hold 10-pin bowling.
If chronicle is any indication, there is a preceding for its removal, peculiarly when host nations did not prioritize the sport.
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Scotland’s Decisive Role and the CGF’s Response
The next variant of the Commonwealth Games is set to be hosted in Scotland after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew from its hosting duties due to budget constraints.
Victoria’s secession followed a shocking rise in the projected cost of organizing the event,’ which led the Scottish capital, Glasgow, to step in as the host city.
During the meeting with CGF President Chris Jenkins and CEO Katie Sadleir,’ WFI President Sanjay Singh made India’s case for wrestling, explaining the sport’s import for India and other nations.
However, CGF officials have made it clear that the maximal conclusion had been made by Scotland.
The CGF plans to limit the 2026 Games to just 10 or 11 sports, and with wrestling is lack of popularity in the UK, the chances of it being retained on the roll seem slim.
“Wrestling is not very common in the UK. England and Scotland did not send many wrestlers so chances of it being retained are not very high,” said Singh, indicating that India might be prepared for the sport’s exclusion.
While CGF officials have been harmonious with the concerns raised by India and other nations, they emphasized that the final call rested with the host country as well as which prioritized sports is more common in the region.
India’s Future at the 2026 CWG
If wrestling is excluded,’ India’s medal tally in 2026 will definitely take a hit. Wrestling had systematically been one of the top performing sports for India at the Commonwealth Games.
However, the reinstatement of shooting,’ which was excluded from the 2022 Birmingham Games, may temperate the blow.
Shooting has historically been another amazing domain for India and its render to the 2026 Games gave the land an adventure to pick up medals in that sport.
While Singh was stiffly hopeful, he had acknowledged that the rise of wrestling in the Commonwealth Games was mostly out of India’s control. “They told us that Scotland made the final decision,” he noted, adding that the Indian delegation’s efforts might not have been plenty to save the sport’s place in the 2026 Games.
As the 2026 CWG approaches, India and other nations that prosper in wrestling will have to wait and see what the final roll holds.
For now, the focus shifted to other sports, like shooting as well as which could have bolstered India’s execution even if wrestling is not included.
The omission of wrestling from the 2026 Commonwealth Games would have marked a meaningful shift in the kinetics of India’s booking in the event.
Despite efforts by WFI President Sanjay Singh, the conclusion eventually rested with Scotland,’ leaving India’s wrestling detail and its fans changeful about the sport’s rising on the Commonwealth stage.
While India’s wrestling chronicle in the CWG is rich as well as the changing landscape of the Games may have forced the expanse to look to other sports for success in 2026.
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References:
CNBCTV18.com
Outlookindia.com
