Glasgow Is Just A Stopgap, Expect Bigger Medal Haul In 2030 Commonwealth Games: Sharath Kamal

Former Indian paddler and seven-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sharath Kamal has said that, although unfortunately, multiple sports will not be played at the Glasgow CWG next year, the tournament would be a stopgap arrangement and one can expect a big medal haul from India in 2030.

Glasgow stepped in to host the CWG after the original host, Victoria, withdrew, citing rising costs. After the pullout, the CWG Federation approached the Scottish city as a replacement and the Scottish government later struck a funding deal with Victoria to stage the event.

To keep the event viable, organisers trimmed the schedule to just 10 sports, excluding major disciplines such as hockey, cricket, wrestling and badminton in a bid to cut costs and simplify

logistics with fewer venues.

Notably, India has historically won six medals in hockey, 31 medals in badminton, one in cricket, five in squash, 28 in table tennis, three in gymnastics and 114 in wrestling.

At the 2022 CWG, India won two medals in hockey, six in badminton, one in cricket, two in squash, seven in table tennis and 12 in wrestling. The scrapping of these sports means that India lose out on almost 30 medals in the multi-nation event.

“It was a tough situation when Australia backed out and Glasgow stepped in. With only half the disciplines going ahead at the CWG, it is a challenging scenario, for sports like table tennis and others that did not make the cut,” Kamal said in reply to a query from News18 Sports, at the unveiling ceremony of the King’s Baton.

“Winning medals at such major multi-sport events provides a fantastic launchpad, not just for athletes but for the growth of the sport itself. That opportunity would not be there in 2026. But this is just a stopgap arrangement and I am optimistic that by 2030, India will bring home even more medals and perform well,” Kamal added.

The Glasgow CWG are all set to begin on July 23, 2026.