Indian coaches including Pullela Gopichand and Vimal Kumar reacted to the exclusion of key sports including badminton from the Commonwealth Games 2026. Notably, on October 22, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games organisers unveiled the 10 sports which will take place in the forthcoming edition of the tournament. In a major blow to India’s medal prospects, several key sports including cricket, hockey, badminton, wrestling, cricket, table tennis and shooting have been dropped from the 2025 edition of the tournament, set to be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland.
Former India coach Vimal Kumar slammed the organisers for the same and said that India should not send a team to the event. He told PTI, “There is no need for CWG. In my opinion, they should do away with it. It is better to organise Olympics and Asian Games than CWG. It is pathetic, I am really disappointed. CWG is losing its charm, it’s relevance, so I strongly feel we shouldn’t send out a team for CWG, it is not required. Similarly, Gopichand Pullela said, “I am deeply appalled and disappointed by the decision to exclude badminton from the 2026 Commonwealth Games, a judgement that appears to be aimed at stunting the progress of nations like India.”
I am deeply disappointed; as athletes we wait for such events: Thomas Cup winner Priyanshu Rajawat
Priyanshu Rajawat, member of the historic 2022 Thomas Cup winning team, expressed his disappointment with the decision and said that as athletes they wait for such marquee tournaments and events. Rajawat told SportsTiger, “I am deeply disappointed. As athletes, we wait for such events in our career. I will be very happy if the committee can reconsider including badminton back into the Commonwealth Games 2026.”
Notably, sports like boxing, wrestling, hockey, cricket, squash, shooting, archery, and badminton among others have been dropped from the Commonwealth Games 2026. The organisers limited the Games only to four venues in Glasgow and will host only 10 sports in the 2026 edition.