Parupalli Kashyap questions exclusion of badminton from Commonwealth Games 2026

Badminton has been excluded from the Commonwealth Games 2026, which will take place in Scotland. The event will feature only ten sports, cutting several popular ones, including badminton, hockey, and shooting. Former Indian badminton player Parupalli Kashyap expressed confusion over this decision. He noted that badminton has a strong following and India has historically performed well in the sport at the Games. Kashyap highlighted the popularity of badminton during the 2014 Games in Glasgow, where he won gold. He questioned the reasoning behind dropping sports that attract large crowds and generate interest among fans.