Commonwealth Games 2026: The biggest changes, India's challenges and why this edition is unique

Glasgow hosts the 2026 Commonwealth Games from July 23 to August 2, after Victoria, Australia withdrew in 2023 citing escalating costs.

The programme is scaled down to 10 sports and 215 medal events, the smallest since 1994, compared to 20 sports in Birmingham 2022.

India sends a 125-member contingent (77 men, 48 women, including para athletes) led by Olympic medallists Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, and Lovlina Borgohain.

Familiar names like PV Sindhu and the Indian hockey, table tennis, and wrestling teams are absent due to programme changes.

Sports included are athletics, swimming, artistic gymnastics, and track cycling, among 10 total selected by the CGF.