Uproar! Axing popular sports from CWG leads to widespread disappointment

The removal of popular sports like hockey, badminton, wrestling and table tennis from the Commonwealth Games (CWG) programme for Glasgow 2026 has led to strong reactions from some of the world bodies ruling the 12 sports that have been axed as well as former athletes.
Announcing Glasgow as the host for the 2026 edition of CWG on Tuesday, the Commonwealth Games Federation statement read, "The 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games will take place in Scotland from Thursday 23 July to Sunday 2 August 2026...It will feature a 10-sport programme concentrated across four venues within an eight-mile corridor."
The 10 sports that have been included in the programme are athletics and para athletics (track & field), swimming and para Swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling and para track cycling, netball, weightlifting and para powerlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and para bowls, and 3x3 basketball and 3x3 wheelchair basketball.
That leaves hockey, cricket, badminton, wrestling, table tennis, archery, diving, rugby sevens, beach volleyball, mountain biking, squash and rhythmic gymnastics out of the Commonwealth Games 2026.
Several athletes and federations have voiced their concern about the decision.
HARMANPREET SINGH
Captain, Indian men's hockey team
"It's a shocking news and very disappointing, but it's not in our hands."
SHARATH KAMAL
7-times CWG gold medallist (table tennis)
"It is a pity that table tennis has been taken off the CWG programme but the organisers have informed they had very short notice as it moved from Melbourne to Glasgow. Unfortunately it is not part of the 10 sports. It is a quite a hit for all the sports which have been excluded, especially table tennis where we have won gold medals."
DIPIKA PALLIKAL
Squash Player
"Whenever it seems like we are moving a few steps forward for the sport, we are suddenly pulled back two steps. Huge loss for the Commonwealth countries that our sport isn't included. I think squash really deserves to be part of all the multi sport events and it's definitely a huge loss that our sport cannot be showcased at the CWG.
BHOLA NATH SINGH
Secretary General, Hockey India
"Most of the medal winning sports for India have been dropped. The IOA should take up the matter. On our part, we have put our grievances to FIH and they are taking up the matter with CGF."
SANJAY SINGH
President, Hockey India
"It is naturally very disappointing. India has always been a very strong wrestling nation at the CWG. It's definitely going to hurt the wrestling community in India. We tried our best to convince CGF to keep the sport on the roster. But if you see, Scotland does not have strong wrestlers, so they must have looked at their own medal prospects which usually the host nations do."
SANJAY MISHRA
General Secretary, Badminton Association of India
"It's shocking and a huge setback for Indian sports, with nearly 40 medals at risk from the dropped events. This isn't just a loss for sports and sportspersons; it feels like a conspiracy to sideline India's rising sporting potential in the region."
INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY FEDERATION (FIH)
"Whilst the Commonwealth Games Federation’s (CGF) had to confirm a new host for the 2026 Games in a short timeframe after the withdrawal from the Victorian Government and whilst we’ve taken note that the new concept for 2026 has been downsized, with a core offering of only 10 sports, we’re all the more disappointed by the CGF’s decision not to have hockey on the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games programme that our sport has been played at every Commonwealth Games since 1998, something we are very proud of. With a reduction from 19 to 10 sports compared to the last edition of the Games, hockey is therefore in the same situation as 8 other sports.
However, the CGF has been very clear in their various exchanges with FIH that this decision is exceptional, and related to the challenging nature of this specific edition of the Commonwealth Games.
CGF has asserted that this decision will not impact the inclusion of hockey into future editions of the Commonwealth Games and that FIH remains a key partner and friend in both the history and future of the Commonwealth movement.
As CGF has confirmed that hockey remains an important sport for the Federation, its members and the Commonwealth movement, we welcome their invitation to discuss further opportunities for hockey with the Commonwealth movement in the future."
KALIKESH SINGH DEO, President, National Rifle Association of India
"It is disappointing that shooting hasn’t been included. This will be a very different Commonwealth Games with many popular Olympic sports not included in what will be a watered down version of the Games."

GAGAN NARANG (ex-shooter), 2012 Olympic bronze medallist
"I am certainly disappointed shooting is not part of CWG 2026 in Glasgow. Our sport has been out of CWG since 2018 and when Victoria was to host it, shooting was included and now it’s been removed. I can imagine the disappointment for shooters who were preparing for this event. I am also disappointed that few more disciplines, which are medal prospects for India, don’t figure in the list of disciplines for CWG 2026.
While I am happy for the ten sports included .The respective international and national federations whose sports missed the cut of list have also been working tirelessly to administer the sport in their respective countries and the athletes have been giving their absolute best to prepare for these prestigious games.
CWG has always been a marquee event in Indian sporting calendar and it is disheartening to see the Games being watered down with fewer disciplines in the coming up in Glasgow 2026."
WORLD SQUASH FEDERATION & SCOTTISH SQUASH
"The World Squash Federation (WSF) and Scottish Squash are deeply disappointed by the news that squash will not be one of the ten sports contested at the condensed 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Squash, which will make its Olympic debut at the LA28 Olympic Games, has been a core sport of the Commonwealth Games since first being contested at Kuala Lumpur 1998.
However, despite having existing infrastructure in place at Scotstoun following a fantastic squash competition at the Glasgow 2014 Games, it is disappointing that squash was not submitted for inclusion after the number of sports was reduced from 19 in 2022 due to the exceptional circumstances of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
This decision is particularly frustrating for Scotland’s and the Commonwealth’s top squash players, who work tirelessly to represent their countries at major games.
WSF and Scottish Squash remain committed to supporting these athletes by providing the best competitive opportunities to enhance their skills and proudly represent their countries.
Representatives of the WSF and Scottish Squash have received assurances that this decision for a condensed event in 2026 will not impact the inclusion of squash into future Commonwealth Games.
(Compiled from various sources)
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