Saina Nehwal 'Very Surprised' And 'Disappointed' By Badminton's Exclusion From Commonwealth Games

Published 24 July 2026 · sports

Saina Nehwal 'Very Surprised' And 'Disappointed' By Badminton's Exclusion From Commonwealth Games Published By, Last Updated: July 24, 2026, 19:33 IST Saina expressed disappointment over

Saina Nehwal 'Very Surprised' And 'Disappointed' By Badminton's Exclusion From Commonwealth Games Published By, Last Updated: July 24, 2026, 19:33 IST Saina expressed disappointment over the exclusion of badminton from the Commonwealth Games and called for greater depth in Indian badminton while praising Sindhu's return to form. Rapid Read Saina Nehwal surprised by badminton's exclusion from CWG 2026. Indian badminton great Saina Nehwal has expressed disappointment over the exclusion of badminton, hockey and shooting from the 2026 Commonwealth Games, saying the decision is a huge setback for athletes, especially young players who have lost a valuable opportunity to compete on a major international stage. Speaking at News18’s Rising Bharat India Summit (South Edition), Saina said it was difficult to understand how sports in which India has traditionally excelled could be removed from the event. “We have won so many gold medals in the Commonwealth Games in badminton, hockey and shooting. These sports are not there this time, and it is very surprising. I wonder how the players are feeling because we have played in every Commonwealth Games from 2006 to 2022," she said.

The former World No. 1 pointed out that India is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and expects the missing disciplines to return, but admitted that the current exclusion is hard to accept. “It is very surprising because in 2030 we again have the Commonwealth Games in India and I am sure these events will be there. But I don’t know how they can just remove these big sports. It is very disappointing," she added. Saina, however, urged athletes not to lose motivation despite the setback. “Players will never stop. They have to keep working hard and look forward to the next tournaments. But it is obviously very tough for the youngsters because they will feel that one major tournament is gone. Maybe Unnati would have got the chance this time. It is a good experience tournament and she is missing that opportunity. Let’s see how she performs in the Asian Games," she said. Saina also praised two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu for rediscovering her best form after an impressive performance last week in Japan.

“What she played last week was fantastic. After a long time, I saw her attacking very well and moving very well. You cannot write off champions because they are very experienced. They know how to control their emotions," Saina said. She believes Sindhu’s resurgence will boost her confidence ahead of the World Championships and the Asian Games. “More than relief, she must be feeling very happy that she is back to the kind of performances she was producing in 2019 and 2020," Saina said. At the same time, the London Olympics bronze medallist stressed the need for greater depth in Indian badminton. While Sindhu has continued to deliver consistently, Saina believes the country should have several younger players ready to take over in the future. “We have Sindhu doing well for the last couple of years, but by now we should have four or five younger players behind her. Maybe when she retires there should already be others ready, but we are still waiting for that in women’s badminton. The same goes for the men’s game as well.