Commonwealth Games 2026 Opening Ceremony Live Updates: India begin Commonwealth Games lawn bowls campaign with wins



The removal of wrestling, badminton, table tennis and shooting has significantly affected India’s medal prospects. Those four sports alone accounted for 25 of India’s 61 medals at the Birmingham Games in 2022.

That leaves athletics, boxing and weightlifting carrying much of the responsibility.

India have sent the maximum allowed 32-member athletics squad, the largest contingent among all disciplines, to compete in 22 medal events.

Leading the team is two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra, who heads into the competition without being the clear favourite.

Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga has emerged as the athlete to beat in the men’s javelin after producing a 92.62m throw to win the Rome Diamond League last month. Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem is also in the field, although Chopra remains among the leading medal contenders.

India will also look towards high jumper Sarvesh Kushare, long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, triple jumper Praveen Chithravel, and both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay teams for medals.

The athletics squad won eight medals in Birmingham, though matching that tally may be difficult against stronger competition.

Weightlifting, another sport that has regularly delivered medals for India, will once again revolve around Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu.

The 31-year-old is aiming for a third successive Commonwealth Games gold medal and remains one of India’s strongest medal hopes.

India’s weightlifting team has been reduced to 11 members after several national campers returned positive dope tests, limiting the country’s medal opportunities in one of its most successful Commonwealth sports.



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