Yogesh Kumar Goyal
The Commonwealth Games are not merely a competition for medals; they are a mirror reflecting a country’s sports culture, talent development, sports science, training ecosystem, and long-term sports policy. The Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2 concluded for India with numerous achievements, a few unfulfilled expectations, and promising possibilities for the future. The Indian contingent secured 4th place in the medal tally by winning a total of 39 medals, including 13 gold, 17 silver, and 9 bronze.
This achievement is particularly significant because several sports in which India traditionally dominates—such as shooting, wrestling, badminton, hockey, and table tennis—were not included in this edition’s discipline lineup. India historically secures a large chunk of its medals in these events. Maintaining the 4th rank despite such limited opportunities stands as a testament to the capability and resilience of Indian athletes. Australia once again dominated the standings by winning a total of 171 medals, including 70 gold. England finished second with 110 medals, and Canada came third with 62 medals. Host nation Scotland delivered an impressive performance, securing fifth place with 39 medals. While India and Scotland tied in the overall medal count, India took fourth place by virtue of winning more gold medals.
A comparison with past performances reveals an interesting perspective. At the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia, India finished third with a total of 66 medals (26 gold, 20 silver, and 20 bronze). Shooting played the biggest role in that success, contributing 16 medals on its own, alongside strong performances in boxing, weightlifting, and wrestling. At the 2022 Birmingham Games in England, India placed fourth with 61 medals (22 gold, 16 silver, and 23 bronze), where all 12 Indian wrestlers scripted history by winning medals, complemented by notable successes in weightlifting and table tennis. Compared to these two editions, India’s medal tally dropped to 39 in Glasgow 2026. At first glance, this decline might seem concerning; however, analyzing the competition program clarifies that many of India’s primary medal-prospect sports were simply not contested. Therefore, evaluating performance solely on the total number of medals would be inappropriate. In reality, India utilized the available opportunities highly effectively and achieved remarkable success in the disciplines in which it participated.
Indian boxers mounted the finest campaign in the country’s Commonwealth Games history this year. India created history in boxing by winning 10 medals, including seven gold and three silver. Female boxers were particularly impressive—young athletes like Jaismine Lamboria, Priya Ghanghas, Sakshi Choudhary, and Preeti Pawar signaled a bright future for Indian women’s boxing. Although Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain narrowly missed out on gold, her experience and performance anchored the strength of the boxing contingent. In the men’s category, boxers including Sachin Siwach and Ankush delivered strong performances, contributing significantly to the medal tally. This success demonstrates that Indian boxing no longer relies on a handful of individuals, but now possesses a broad pipeline of talent. Weightlifting also upheld India’s prestige. Over the past decade, Indian lifters have shown consistent progress, and their performance in Glasgow proved that India has become a formidable force on the world stage. In judo, Indian athletes exceeded expectations and won key medals, sending a clear signal that the sport is growing rapidly in the country. However, the provisional suspension and withdrawal of judoka Tulika Maan due to missing three anti-doping “whereabouts” filings served as a setback for the contingent. This incident highlights that top-tier international competition requires complete awareness and adherence to anti-doping regulations alongside athletic skill.
India’s performance in athletics became a major talking point. Gulveer Singh etched his name into the history books by winning silver in the 10,000 meters and bronze in the 5,000 meters, becoming the first Indian athlete to win two track-and-field medals in a single edition of the Commonwealth Games. India had never previously medaled in these long-distance events. This achievement reflects the changing landscape of Indian athletics and the success of scientific training systems. In para-sports, India recorded its best-ever performance at the Commonwealth Games, securing seven medals (3 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze).
A deeper analysis of the contingent’s performance highlights the contribution of female athletes, who secured 16 medals—including 8 gold—demonstrating growing participation and excellence among women in Indian sports. Male athletes delivered a balanced contribution with 23 medals overall. Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that while the 2026 performance is satisfying, it is not historic. The 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games remain India’s golden benchmark, where the nation finished second behind Australia with 101 total medals, including 38 gold. While home advantage played a role, that performance proved that with strong infrastructure, a broad base of athletes, and systematic preparation, India has the capacity to challenge the top nations.
The most vital shift in India’s sporting journey is that the country is no longer confined to a select few disciplines. Where success was once largely restricted to shooting, wrestling, badminton, and weightlifting, new athletes are now consistently emerging in boxing, judo, athletics, and para-sports. This transformation is a positive outcome of national sports policies, initiatives like Khelo India, upgraded training infrastructure, sports science, sports nutrition, and financial support for athletes. However, there remains an ongoing need to strengthen talent identification, grassroots coaching, sports medicine, mental conditioning, and international competition exposure. The eyes of the Indian sports world are now set on 2030, when Ahmedabad will host the Commonwealth Games. This event will serve not only as a sporting contest but as a opportunity for India to showcase its athletic potential, modern infrastructure, and organizational capabilities to the world.
The Glasgow Commonwealth Games have reinforced the confidence that regardless of how challenging the circumstances are, Indian athletes possess the capability to bring honor to the nation on every stage. The key now is to view these achievements not as the final destination, but as a crucial stepping stone toward becoming a global sporting superpower. India must continue strengthening the sports where it has established world-class standing, while scaling long-term investment in athletics, swimming, gymnastics, and other core Olympic sports. If India maintains continuity in its sports policies and provides athletes with scientific training, world-class facilities, and sustained support, the day is not far when India will regularly feature among the top nations on the medal tallies of the Commonwealth Games, Olympics, and other global competitions. |
