The exclusion of wrestling from the Commonwealth Games 2026 has sparked disappointment, especially among those who believe India's medal tally will be significantly affected. Former wrestler Babita Phogat, a three-time Commonwealth Games medalist, has voiced her concerns, emphasizing the challenges this decision poses, particularly for women wrestlers.
Phogat participated in the 'Fit India Sundays on Cycle' initiative in New Delhi and spoke to ANI, expressing her sadness over wrestling's absence from the Games. She highlighted that wrestling has been a consistent part of the Commonwealth Games program, offering opportunities for Indian wrestlers to showcase their talent and win medals since 2010. The Phogat sisters, including Geeta, Babita, Ritu, and Sangeeta, have been instrumental in elevating women's wrestling in India, inspiring countless young girls to pursue the sport. Geeta Phogat's gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games was a historic moment, marking the first gold medal by an Indian female wrestler at the event. Babita Phogat also contributed significantly, winning gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and a silver in 2018.
The Commonwealth Games 2026, which will be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, 2026, will feature only 10 sports, a stark contrast to the 20 sports included in the 2022 edition in Birmingham. The sports that will be included are athletics, swimming, 3x3 basketball, track cycling, weightlifting, lawn bowls, artistic gymnastics, netball, boxing, and judo. Para variants of the first five sports will also be included. The venues for the Games will be Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena, and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC).
The decision to exclude wrestling, along with other sports like cricket, field hockey, and badminton, is a significant setback for India, as these are traditionally strong medal-winning sports for the nation. Babita Phogat believes that India would have had a greater chance of winning more medals if wrestling had been included in the program.
