Commonwealth Games 2023: India Aims for Glory in Glasgow

The Commonwealth Games 2023 in Glasgow are set to commence, with India fielding a strong team of 125 athletes, including para-athletes. Despite a reduced format featuring only 10 sports, expectations remain high for medal wins. Key athletes like Neeraj Chopra and Mirabai Chanu are poised to shine, while the absence of popular sports like badminton and wrestling raises concerns about India's medal tally. With a rich history of success, the Indian contingent aims to break records and bring home glory. Stay tuned for updates on their journey in Glasgow!

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 24, 2026, 19:06 IST

Excitement Builds for the Commonwealth Games

Following the grand spectacle of the FIFA World Cup, sports enthusiasts are now gearing up for the Commonwealth Games, which will take place from July 23 to August 2. The Indian contingent, ready to showcase their talents, has arrived in Glasgow, Scotland, with the national flag in hand. A total of 125 athletes, including para-athletes, are competing for medals, comprising 77 men and 48 women. Historically, India has been a strong performer at the Commonwealth Games, and expectations are high this time as well. In the previous Birmingham 2022 Games, Indian athletes secured a remarkable total of 61 medals, including 22 gold, 16 silver, and 23 bronze. Since the inception of the Commonwealth Games, India has amassed an impressive total of 564 medals, which includes 203 gold, 190 silver, and 171 bronze. The Indian athletes are determined to break records and create new milestones in Glasgow, with millions of fans across the country eagerly anticipating a medal haul.

Limited Sports at the Commonwealth Games

The format of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has been significantly reduced, featuring only 10 sports compared to 19 in the Birmingham Games of 2022. The sports included this time are athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, 3x3 basketball, lawn bowls, netball, artistic gymnastics, judo, and boxing. Notably absent are badminton, cricket, hockey, squash, table tennis, triathlon, wrestling, beach volleyball, and rugby sevens.

Reasons Behind the Changes

The primary reason for this reduction is financial constraints. Initially, the 2026 Commonwealth Games were set to be hosted in Victoria, Australia. However, citing rising costs, Victoria withdrew from hosting the event three years prior. This led to questions about the relevance of the games, with some even declaring them obsolete. Glasgow stepped in but indicated that they lacked sufficient time for a full-scale event, thus proposing a smaller, condensed version. To save costs, the 10 sports will be held at just four venues, all within a 12-kilometer radius in central Glasgow. Additionally, athletes and support staff will stay in hotels instead of an athlete village, and both the opening and closing ceremonies will be on a smaller scale.

Impact on India's Medal Prospects

Due to the limited nature of the Glasgow Games, India's chances of winning medals have diminished significantly. For instance, badminton has been removed from the lineup, a sport in which India won six medals, including golds from stars like Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu in the last edition. Wrestling, which contributed 12 medals to India in 2022, is also absent from this tournament. Table tennis, which brought home seven medals, along with hockey and cricket, which accounted for three medals, are also missing. In fact, 30 of the 61 medals India won in Birmingham came from sports not included in Glasgow. Former Indian hockey captain and Olympian Viren Rasquinha remarked that the absence of these sports will create a void, making this Commonwealth Games notably different, as many medal-winning events are not part of the competition. Consequently, this will undoubtedly affect India's medal tally.

Key Indian Athletes to Watch

Neeraj Chopra (Javelin Throw)
Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra is once again a major medal hope for India, with expectations for him to secure gold.
Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting)
Having won two gold and one silver medal in previous Commonwealth Games, Mirabai Chanu aims to achieve a historic third consecutive gold this time.
Lovlina Borgohain (75 kg Boxing)
The bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics and 2023 World Champion, Lovlina Borgohain is among the most experienced members of the Indian women's boxing team.
Gurinderveer Singh (100m Sprint)
India's fastest runner, Gurinderveer Singh, set a national record this year with a time of 10.09 seconds, and expectations are high for his performance.
Pranati Nayak (Artistic Gymnastics)
Experienced gymnast Pranati Nayak is set to compete in her first Commonwealth Games with hopes of winning a medal.
Emerging Young Talents
This year, the Indian team also includes young athletes like Sarvesh Kushare and Gyaneshwari Yadav, who are expected to become future stars.