NEW DELHI: Indian govt has lodged a strong protest over the proposed exclusion of shooting and wrestling from the Commonwealth Games programme for Glasgow 2026, it's been learnt.
The sports ministry officials took up the matter with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Chris Jenkins and CGF CEO Katie Sadleir during the duo's visit to India last month and called for the accommodation of two sports disciplines in the Games calendar for the larger benefit of Indian athletes. CGF delegates assured the ministry officials that they will request the Games organisers to include both shooting and wrestling and to increase the number of disciplines featured at the Games to 13 sports.
The organisers have announced that they will include just 10 sports at the 2026 Games, with new sports like golf, BMX and coastal rowing all set to make their debuts.
According to sources, the talks with CGF officials were fruitful and a clear assurance was given by them that India's sporting interests would be kept in mind. Shooting was not part of the 2022 Birmingham CWG and has been left out of the Glasgow Games as well.
Wrestling was surprisingly dropped from the list of sports for the 2026 edition. In Birmingham, India's wrestlers returned with 12 medals, with six of them winning gold.
