India's medal hopes dim as key sports excluded from 2026 Commonwealth Games

India's medal prospects for the 2026 Commonwealth Games have been significantly impacted as key sports like hockey, badminton, cricket, and shooting will not be included. The Games will take place in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, 2026. The revised sports program will feature only 10 disciplines, a reduction of nine events from the 2022 Birmingham Games. Other excluded sports include table tennis, squash, and triathlon, with all events held across four venues. This decision follows the withdrawal of Victoria, Australia, as host due to rising costs. The Commonwealth Games Federation aims to minimize expenses and environmental impact while maintaining a focus on Para sports, which will still be part of the event.