CWG 2026: PM Narendra Modi Extends Best Wishes To Indian Athletes

Published 24 July 2026 · politics

CWG 2026: PM Narendra Modi Extends Best Wishes To Indian Athletes Published By, Last Updated: July 24, 2026, 11:47 IST Prime Minister Narendra Modi says

CWG 2026: PM Narendra Modi Extends Best Wishes To Indian Athletes Published By, Last Updated: July 24, 2026, 11:47 IST Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he's confident Indian athletes will participate in the CWG 2026 with "passion, determination and a spirit of excellence." Rapid Read PM Narendra Modi (left) has sent his best wishes to Indian athletes. (PTI/AP) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended his wishes to the Indian contingent as the 2026 Commonwealth Games got underway in Glasgow, expressing confidence that the country’s athletes would compete with “passion, determination and a spirit of excellence." “As the Commonwealth #Glasgow2026 Games begin, my best wishes to the Indian contingent. I am confident that our athletes will participate in the Games with passion, determination and a spirit of excellence. The skills and dedication of our athletes always inspire countless Indians," Modi posted on X. As the Commonwealth #Glasgow2026 Games begin, my best wishes to the Indian contingent.I am confident that our athletes will participate in the Games with passion, determination and a spirit of excellence.

The skills and dedication of our athletes always inspire countless… pic.twitter.com/caenX35LdG — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2026 India’s campaign at CWG 2026 will be led by several established names, including Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra in javelin throw, Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu in weightlifting, Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain in boxing among others. CWG 2026: Full Coverage | Medals Tally | Schedule | News India’s weightlifting squad suffered a setback after its quota was reduced because of anti-doping rule violations during the qualification period. Unlike Birmingham 2022, where India finished fourth with 61 medals (22 gold, 16 silver and 23 bronze), Glasgow 2026 features a dramatically scaled-down programme. The Games will be contested across only 10 sports and 215 medal events, making it the smallest Commonwealth Games since 1994. Organisers have adopted the model after Glasgow stepped in as host following Victoria’s withdrawal, with the aim of reducing costs by using existing venues and infrastructure. The trimmed schedule though has impacted India’s medal prospects.

Several disciplines that have traditionally contributed heavily to India’s medals tally including badminton, hockey, wrestling, table tennis, shooting among others have been dropped from the programme. The sports program is housed entirely within Scotstoun Stadium, the Scottish Event Campus, Glasgow International Arena, and Tollcross International Swimming Centre. Despite the reduced programme, India still remains one of the leading sporting nations in the event and will look to make a strong impression. With PTI Inputs News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered How will the reduced sports program impact India's medal count? India's medal count at the 2026 Commonwealth Games is expected to decrease due to the exclusion of several sports. Sports like wrestling, badminton, table tennis, hockey, and shooting, which were strong medal sources for India, have been removed from the event. What are the key differences between CWG 2022 and 2026? The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow feature a scaled-down program with 10 sports, compared to 19 in the 2022 Birmingham Games.