Pullela Gopichand Disappointed as Badminton Dropped from 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
Indian badminton coach Pullela Gopichand has expressed his disappointment over the exclusion of badminton from the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The decision affects India’s medal prospects as cricket, field hockey, badminton, and wrestling have been removed from the event scheduled from July 23 to August 2, 2026. Gopichand criticized the decision, stating it hinders the progress of nations like India and jeopardizes the sport’s growth globally.
Gopichand emphasized the importance of raising concerns with relevant authorities to ensure badminton’s continued development and inspiration for future generations. He called for scrutiny and discussion of the reasons behind the sport’s exclusion.
BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra also voiced his disappointment, highlighting the risk of losing nearly 40 medals due to the dropped events. Mishra described the decision as a setback for Indian sports and a potential conspiracy to undermine India’s sporting potential. The Badminton Association of India plans to protest and engage with Commonwealth and BWF authorities, as well as the Indian government, to advocate for Indian sports.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will feature only 10 sports, including athletics, swimming, 3×3 basketball, track cycling, weightlifting, lawn bowls, artistic gymnastics, netball, boxing, and judo. The para variants of the first five sports will be included in the integrated para program. This is a significant reduction from the 20 sports featured in the 2022 Birmingham edition.
Doubts Revealed
Pullela Gopichand -: Pullela Gopichand is a famous Indian badminton coach and former player. He has trained many top Indian badminton players, including Olympic medalists.
Badminton -: Badminton is a popular sport in India where players use rackets to hit a shuttlecock over a net. It is played both indoors and outdoors.
Commonwealth Games -: The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event held every four years, where athletes from countries that were once part of the British Empire compete.
Glasgow -: Glasgow is a city in Scotland, which is part of the United Kingdom. It is known for hosting various international events.
BAI -: BAI stands for Badminton Association of India, which is the governing body for badminton in India. It organizes tournaments and supports players.
Medal prospects -: Medal prospects refer to the chances or likelihood of winning medals in sports competitions. India often wins medals in badminton at international events.
2026 Games -: The 2026 Games refer to the Commonwealth Games that will be held in the year 2026. These games will have fewer sports compared to previous editions.
