AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal Criticised the Removal of Wrestling and Shooting From the Glasgow Roster; the Sports Minister Says Ahmedabad Will Host All Major Disciplines
After the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games concluded, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal posted on X congratulating India's athletes but criticised the organisers for dropping disciplines where India traditionally wins medals. "It is deeply disheartening to see that sports like wrestling and shooting where we traditionally excel have been removed from the CWG roster. India must strongly protest these unfair omissions," he wrote, according to Asianet Newsable.
Glasgow 2026 ran to just 10 sports, compared with 19 at Birmingham 2022, after original host Victoria withdrew and organisers moved to what The Bridge described as "a significantly leaner and more financially sustainable model" confined to four existing venues.
According to The Bridge, shooting was dropped largely because there was no dedicated shooting venue within Glasgow's compact hosting model, and building one would have added substantially to operational costs. Wrestling was excluded on venue and logistical grounds as organisers prioritised a streamlined event structure, while badminton missed out because Glasgow worked with a limited number of venues and events, with sports chosen on operational feasibility, venue availability and budget.
The report noted these three disciplines have historically been significant medal contributors for India, and their absence meant India's Glasgow contingent was considerably smaller than at previous Games.
Excluded as Glasgow's compact model lacked a dedicated shooting venue, per The Bridge.
Left out on venue and logistical grounds as organisers streamlined the event structure.
Dropped due to limited venues and events, chosen on cost and feasibility grounds.
Responding directly to Kejriwal, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said India's role as host from 2030 gives it control over the sports programme. "Mr Kejriwal, you can rest completely assured that when India hosts the 2030 Commonwealth Games under the leadership of the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, it will be the grandest and most historic one," he said, adding that "all our major sports will be included in it," as reported by Asianet Newsable.
Mandaviya also addressed India's Glasgow 2026 campaign directly, calling the fourth-place finish "commendable" given several of India's strongest disciplines were absent from the roster. According to the Tribune, he pointed out that the medal count from comparable disciplines rose from 30 at Birmingham 2022 to 39 at Glasgow 2026, where India competed with a squad of 122 athletes and won 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze medals.
Mandaviya has previously told reporters that cricket and hockey are set to return for the 2030 Games, saying "both cricket and hockey will be there," according to Yardbarker. Commonwealth Games regulations require host organisers to select two disciplines from hockey, T20 cricket and rugby sevens, and Mandaviya indicated hockey and cricket are the likely picks.
He also said four indigenous Indian sports — kabaddi, mallakhamb, kho-kho and yoga — are under consideration for the additional slots host nations are permitted to add, with two expected to make the final cut. Taken together, officials are targeting a roster of roughly 17 sports for Ahmedabad 2030, up from the 10 held in Glasgow.
10 sports, 122-athlete Indian squad, 39 medals.
19 sports, 30 medals in disciplines comparable to Glasgow, per Mandaviya.
Roughly 17 sports, including cricket and hockey's return.
Kabaddi, mallakhamb, kho-kho and yoga in contention for two host-nation slots.
Glasgow organisers used a compact, cost-conscious format limited to four venues; shooting lacked a dedicated venue, and wrestling and badminton were cut on venue, logistics and budget grounds, according to The Bridge.
He congratulated India's athletes but criticised the removal of wrestling and shooting from the Glasgow roster, calling on India to 'strongly protest' the omissions.
Mandaviya said Ahmedabad's 2030 Commonwealth Games would be the 'grandest and most historic' edition and would include all of India's major sports.
Mandaviya has said both are set to return, since Commonwealth Games rules require host nations to pick two disciplines from hockey, T20 cricket and rugby sevens.
India finished fourth overall with 39 medals — 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze — from a 122-athlete squad, according to Sports Minister Mandaviya.
Asianet Newsable — Mandaviya assures all sports in 2030 CWG after Kejriwal's protest | The Tribune — 'Commendable 4th-place finish': Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya lauds India's CWG 2026 campaign | The Bridge — Explained: Why are shooting, wrestling and badminton not part of the Commonwealth Games 2026? | Yardbarker — CWG 2030: Cricket, Hockey And Two Indigenous Indian Sports Likely To Feature, Says Mandaviya