Wrestling to Be Excluded from 2026 Commonwealth Games

India's Protests Force Commonwealth of Nations to Drop Sport

Wrestling was among the sports that were removed from the 2026 Commonwealth Games program following objections from India, the tournament's host.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) published a list of sports for the 2026 Games in Victoria, Australia, earlier this month that did not include wrestling.

The CGF’s decision came after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) threatened to boycott the Games. The IOA claimed that dropping wrestling was unfair because it is a popular sport in India and the country has produced many Olympic champions in the sport.

The CGF has defended its decision, saying that it was made after a "thorough review" of the sports program.

The CGF said in a statement that "the decision to exclude wrestling from the 2026 Commonwealth Games was not taken lightly and was made after careful consideration of all relevant factors."

The CGF added that it "understands the disappointment of those who will be affected by this decision, but it believes that it is in the best interests of the Games and the Commonwealth sports movement."

The decision has been met with criticism from some quarters, including from the International Wrestling Federation (UWW).

The UWW said in a statement that it was "deeply disappointed" by the CGF's decision and that it "will continue to work with the CGF to ensure that wrestling is included in future Commonwealth Games."

The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in Victoria, Australia, from March 17 to 29.

Significance of Wrestling in India

Wrestling is a popular sport in India, with a long and rich history.

India has produced many world and Olympic champions in wrestling, including Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, and Sakshi Malik.

Wrestling is also a popular sport at the Commonwealth Games, with India winning more medals in the sport than any other country.

2022 Commonwealth Games

Wrestling was one of the eight core sports at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

India won a total of six medals in wrestling at the Games, including two golds, two silvers, and two bronzes.

Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik won gold medals in the men's and women's 65kg freestyle events, respectively.

Conclusion

The exclusion of wrestling from the 2026 Commonwealth Games is a major blow to the sport in India.

The decision is likely to have a negative impact on the development of wrestling in India and could lead to a decline in the number of people participating in the sport.

It is hoped that the CGF will reconsider its decision and reinstate wrestling to the program for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.