India’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and coach Craig Fulton are understandably disappointed that hockey won’t be part of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The event has been scaled down to just 10 sports due to budget constraints, and this decision affects several sports where India traditionally excels, including hockey, badminton, cricket, shooting, and wrestling ¹ ².
Harmanpreet Singh called the exclusion “disappointing” and emphasized that hockey holds a special place in the Commonwealth Games. He also mentioned that India was targeting gold in the 2026 edition ¹. Coach Craig Fulton, while acknowledging the disappointment, shifted focus to the upcoming series against Germany, stressing that the team needs to move forward ¹.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) also expressed disappointment, highlighting that hockey has been part of the Commonwealth Games since 1998 ¹. India’s Hockey Secretary General, Bhola Nath Singh, urged the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to intervene and ensure the issue is addressed ¹.
India’s Medal Prospects Take a Hit
The exclusion of these sports will significantly impact India’s medal tally in the 2026 Games. At the 2022 CWG, India won 61 medals, with 30 of those coming from sports that are now excluded ³.
Reactions from the Sporting Community
Other athletes, like Chirag Shetty, have also criticized the exclusion of badminton from the 2026 Games ². The Pakistan Olympic Association has decided to formally write to the Commonwealth Games Federation to reconsider the exclusion of hockey ⁴.
