India's Contingent of 126 Athletes Begins Campaign at Scaled-Down Commonwealth Games
The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow officially begin with the opening ceremony at the OVO Hydro arena on Wednesday night. India has sent a contingent of 126 athletes, significantly fewer than the 215 who participated in the 2022 Birmingham Games. This reduction follows the exclusion of several sports that have traditionally contributed to India's medal tally, including badminton, hockey, wrestling, table tennis, squash, and cricket.
The opening ceremony, scheduled for 12:30 AM Indian Standard Time, will see weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and boxer Lovlina Borgohain serve as India's flag bearers. Lovlina, who competes in the women's 75 kg boxing event, has already secured at least a bronze medal after receiving a direct entry into the semifinals.
India's campaign began earlier with victories in lawn bowls. Putul Sonowal defeated 2023 world champion Ryan Bester of Canada in a tie-break in the men's singles, while Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh won their women's pairs opening match against Malta, also in a tie-break.
The 2026 Games are a slimmed-down version of the event, with only 10 sports compared to 17 in 2022. The absence of key medal-winning sports has raised concerns about India's overall performance. An Indian team member who was also present at the 2014 Glasgow Games noted the contrast in atmosphere, stating that the central square, once a lively gathering place, is now a construction site with drilling sounds replacing the festive energy of a decade ago.
Despite the scaled-down nature, the Games proceed with opening ceremony performances and competitions across multiple disciplines. The Indian contingent aims to make the most of the opportunities available.
