Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain has secured at least a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 after receiving a bye into the women's 75kg semifinals, ensuring a podium finish without competing in the quarterfinals. In boxing, the Commonwealth Games awards two bronze medals in every weight category, with both losing semifinalists receiving bronze. As a result, any boxer who reaches the last four is guaranteed a medal.&nbsp;Lovlina advanced directly to the semifinals because the women's 75kg category has only five competitors. The lone quarterfinal in the division, scheduled for July 28, will feature England's Mary Kate Smith against Nigeria's Patricia Mbata. Alongside Lovlina, Australia's Emma-Sue Greentree and Tuvalu's Tarona Taafaki have also progressed straight to the semifinals. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist and former world champion will take on Tarona Taafaki in the semifinals on July 31, with a place in the gold medal match on the line.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/delhi-set-to-host-commonwealth-table-tennis-championship-2026-players-from-35-countries-to-compete-1784809850930">Delhi set to host Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship 2026; players from 35 countries to compete</a>&nbsp;Regardless of the outcome, the 28-year-old has already secured her first-ever Commonwealth Games medal. Lovlina narrowly missed out on a podium finish at Gold Coast 2018, where she lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Sandy Ryan. She also suffered a first-round exit at Birmingham 2022. On both occasions, she competed in the 69kg category.&nbsp;This medal will complete Lovlina's collection of medals across all major multi-sport events she is eligible to compete in, having previously won medals at the Olympic Games and the Asian Games. Several other Indian boxers will begin their campaigns in the quarterfinals, including Kapil Pokhariya (men's 90kg), Narender Berwal (men's +90kg), Jaismine Lamboria (women's 57kg), Priya Ghanghas (women's 60kg), Parveen Hooda (women's 65kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (women's 70kg). A quarterfinal victory will guarantee each of them a medal.&nbsp;Boxing competition at the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026 will take place from July 24 to August 1 at Hall 5 of the Scottish Event Campus. Preliminary bouts are scheduled between July 24 and July 29, while the medal matches will be held on July 31 and August 1.

Lovlina Borgohain secures a guaranteed medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 after advancing directly to the women's 75kg boxing semifinals in Glasgow

Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain has secured at least a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 after receiving a bye into the women's 75kg semifinals, ensuring a podium finish without competing in the quarterfinals. In boxing, the Commonwealth Games awards two bronze medals in every weight category, with both losing semifinalists receiving bronze. As a result, any boxer who reaches the last four is guaranteed a medal. Lovlina advanced directly to the semifinals because the women's 75kg category has only five competitors. The lone quarterfinal in the division, scheduled for July 28, will feature England's Mary Kate Smith against Nigeria's Patricia Mbata. Alongside Lovlina, Australia's Emma-Sue Greentree and Tuvalu's Tarona Taafaki have also progressed straight to the semifinals. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist and former world champion will take on Tarona Taafaki in the semifinals on July 31, with a place in the gold medal match on the line. Also Read: Delhi set to host Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship 2026; players from 35 countries to compete Regardless of the outcome, the 28-year-old has already secured her first-ever Commonwealth Games medal. Lovlina narrowly missed out on a podium finish at Gold Coast 2018, where she lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Sandy Ryan. She also suffered a first-round exit at Birmingham 2022. On both occasions, she competed in the 69kg category. This medal will complete Lovlina's collection of medals across all major multi-sport events she is eligible to compete in, having previously won medals at the Olympic Games and the Asian Games. Several other Indian boxers will begin their campaigns in the quarterfinals, including Kapil Pokhariya (men's 90kg), Narender Berwal (men's +90kg), Jaismine Lamboria (women's 57kg), Priya Ghanghas (women's 60kg), Parveen Hooda (women's 65kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (women's 70kg). A quarterfinal victory will guarantee each of them a medal. Boxing competition at the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026 will take place from July 24 to August 1 at Hall 5 of the Scottish Event Campus. Preliminary bouts are scheduled between July 24 and July 29, while the medal matches will be held on July 31 and August 1.

Lovlina Borgohain is assured of her first Commonwealth Games medal after receiving a bye into the women's 75kg boxing semifinals at Glasgow 2026

Commonwealth Games 2026: Lovlina Borgohain assured of medal after receiving semifinal bye

With just a day left in the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Murali Sreeshankar believes Indian men's long jump is entering its strongest phase ever. Yet, despite the unprecedented depth in talent, the national record holder insists the country's biggest achievements are still ahead. "The best is still yet to come," Sreeshankar said confidently, reflecting on how dramatically the event has evolved in recent years.&nbsp;For decades, the elusive 8-metre mark symbolised elite status for Indian long jumpers. Crossing it meant a career-defining milestone. Today, however, Sreeshankar says that benchmark has become almost routine. "8 metres has become a very normal mark. You can see athletes jumping beyond 8metres even at state-level competitions now. Earlier, it used to feel like a huge milestone. That's not the case anymore."&nbsp;The transformation is evident in the domestic circuit itself. Sreeshankar revealed that he entered this season's Inter-State Championships ranked only fourth among Indian jumpers, highlighting the extraordinary depth that now exists in the discipline."I went into the Inter-State Championships as the fourth-leading jumper in India. There were already athletes who had jumped farther than me that season."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/glasgow-2026-commonwealth-games-opening-ceremony-date-time-performers-all-you-need-to-know-1784726628268">Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony: Date, time, performers &amp; all you need to know</a>&nbsp;India now boasts one of the strongest groups of long jumpers in Asia, with multiple athletes consistently crossing the 8.20m mark and two already breaching 8.30m this season. The numbers underline the surge. Lokesh has cleared 8.21m, David has jumped 8.22m, while Sreeshankar himself has registered an impressive 8.38m. Such competition, he says, has fundamentally changed the mindset of Indian athletes. "When I compete in India now, I know I have to be at my absolute best. I can't turn up slightly off form and expect to win. If I jump around 8.10 metres, I could easily get beaten."&nbsp;According to Sreeshankar, that relentless domestic rivalry is exactly what elevates an entire sporting ecosystem. Drawing a comparison with Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra's influence on Indian javelin, Sreeshankar explained how one athlete's excellence forces everyone else to improve. "When Neeraj kept throwing beyond 88m, everyone behind him knew they had to raise their standards. That's why Rohit, Kishore and Sachin all improved. That's how the standard of an event rises in a country."&nbsp;He believes long jump is now experiencing a similar transformation. However, Sreeshankar warns that domestic success alone will not guarantee medals on the global stage. The real challenge, he believes, lies in reproducing those performances against the world's best under unfamiliar conditions. "It will be crucial to replicate the performances we've produced domestically at the international level. That depends on adapting to different conditions. That's what will help us win global medals."&nbsp;As India heads into another major international season, Sreeshankar sees more than just individual success. He sees the emergence of an entire generation capable of pushing one another beyond previous limits. The 8m barrier may no longer define Indian long jump. The next challenge, according to Sreeshankar, is ensuring that the country's growing domestic dominance translates into podium finishes on the biggest international stages.

Commonwealth Games-bound Murali Sreeshankar says India's long jump has entered a new era with multiple athletes crossing 8 metres. He believes fierce domestic competition will help India challenge for global medals

With just a day left in the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Murali Sreeshankar believes Indian men's long jump is entering its strongest phase ever. Yet, despite the unprecedented depth in talent, the national record holder insists the country's biggest achievements are still ahead. "The best is still yet to come," Sreeshankar said confidently, reflecting on how dramatically the event has evolved in recent years. For decades, the elusive 8-metre mark symbolised elite status for Indian long jumpers. Crossing it meant a career-defining milestone. Today, however, Sreeshankar says that benchmark has become almost routine. "8 metres has become a very normal mark. You can see athletes jumping beyond 8metres even at state-level competitions now. Earlier, it used to feel like a huge milestone. That's not the case anymore." The transformation is evident in the domestic circuit itself. Sreeshankar revealed that he entered this season's Inter-State Championships ranked only fourth among Indian jumpers, highlighting the extraordinary depth that now exists in the discipline. "I went into the Inter-State Championships as the fourth-leading jumper in India. There were already athletes who had jumped farther than me that season." Also Read: Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony: Date, time, performers & all you need to know India now boasts one of the strongest groups of long jumpers in Asia, with multiple athletes consistently crossing the 8.20m mark and two already breaching 8.30m this season. The numbers underline the surge. Lokesh has cleared 8.21m, David has jumped 8.22m, while Sreeshankar himself has registered an impressive 8.38m. Such competition, he says, has fundamentally changed the mindset of Indian athletes. "When I compete in India now, I know I have to be at my absolute best. I can't turn up slightly off form and expect to win. If I jump around 8.10 metres, I could easily get beaten." According to Sreeshankar, that relentless domestic rivalry is exactly what elevates an entire sporting ecosystem. Drawing a comparison with Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra's influence on Indian javelin, Sreeshankar explained how one athlete's excellence forces everyone else to improve. "When Neeraj kept throwing beyond 88m, everyone behind him knew they had to raise their standards. That's why Rohit, Kishore and Sachin all improved. That's how the standard of an event rises in a country." He believes long jump is now experiencing a similar transformation. However, Sreeshankar warns that domestic success alone will not guarantee medals on the global stage. The real challenge, he believes, lies in reproducing those performances against the world's best under unfamiliar conditions. "It will be crucial to replicate the performances we've produced domestically at the international level. That depends on adapting to different conditions. That's what will help us win global medals." As India heads into another major international season, Sreeshankar sees more than just individual success. He sees the emergence of an entire generation capable of pushing one another beyond previous limits. The 8m barrier may no longer define Indian long jump. The next challenge, according to Sreeshankar, is ensuring that the country's growing domestic dominance translates into podium finishes on the biggest international stages.

Murali Sreeshankar believes India's long jump boom is only beginning, saying jumping 8 metres is now ‘normal’ and fierce domestic competition can eventually translate into Commonwealth, World and Olympic medals

'8m is normal now': Murali Sreeshankar says India's long jump revolution has only just started ahead of Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games 2026 are set to being on July 23 in Glasgow, Scotland with about 3,000 athletes from 74 countries taking part in 13 disciplines including para sports. A total of 126 Indian athletes are part of the contingent, vying for the medals across all sports. India has sent <a href="https://yas.gov.in/sites/default/files/Participation_of_India_2026.PDF">77 male and 48 female athletes</a> to the games including in para sports.<h2>Who are Indian athletes participating in Commonwealth Games 2026?</h2>Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-argentina-star-messi-reacts-to-heartbreaking-loss-vs-spain-in-final-1784602442367">FIFA 2026 | Argentina star Messi reacts to heartbreaking loss vs Spain in final</a>The highest athletes are in Athletics where 32 players will try and win a medal in which 10 are women and 22 males. In other sports the number of athletes is: boxing (14), judo (14), weightlifting (12), track cycling (6), artistic gymnastic (8), bowls (6), and swimming (5). Among para athletes the number is: athletics (11), wheelchair basketball (4), powerlifting (7), swimming (6), and track cycling (1). Here's list athletes in each sport:<h3>Track</h3>Gurindervir Singh - Men's 100 metresAnimesh Kujur - Men's 200 metresVishal TK - Men's 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relayRajesh Ramesh - Men's 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relayGulveer Singh - Men's 5000 metres, Men's 10,000 metresTejas Shirse - Men's 110 metres hurdlesYashas Palaksha - Men's 400 metres hurdlesSanthosh Kumar Tamilarasan - Men's 400 metres hurdlesRashdeep Kaur - Women's 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relayNeeru Pathak - Women's 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relayAnsa Babu - Women's 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relayParul Chaudhary - Women's 3000 metres s'chase, Women's 5000 metresPriyanka Goswami - Women's 10,000 metres walkRavina Gaikwad - Women's 10,000 metres walk<h3>Field</h3>Dev Meena - Men's pole vaultKuldeep Kumar - Men's pole vaultSarvesh Anil Kushare - Men's high jumpAadarsh Ram J - Men's high jumpTejaswin Shankar - Men's high jump, Men's decathlonMurali Sreeshankar - Men's long jumpLokesh Sathyanathan - Men's long jumpPraveen Chithravel - Men's triple jumpSelva Prabhu - Men's triple jumpSamardeep Singh Gill - Men's shot putTajinderpal Singh Toor - Men's shot putNeeraj Chopra - Men's javelin throwRohit Yadav - Men's javelin throwYash Vir Singh - Men's javelin throwPooja Singh - Women's high jumpManpreet Kaur - Women's shot putSeema Kaliramna - Women's discus throwNidhi Rani - Women's discus throw<h3>Track (Para)</h3>Rakeshbhai Bhatt - Men's 100 metres (T38)Shreyansh Trivedi - Men's 100 metres (T38)Mohammed Basil M - Men's 100 metres (T47)Dilip Mahadu Gavit - Men's 100 metres (T47)Ramesh Shanmugam - Men's 1500 metres (T54)<h3>Field (Para)</h3>Devender Kumar - Men's discus throw (F44)Sagar Thayat - Men's discus throw (F44)Shubham Juyal - Men's shot put (F57)Soman Rana - Men's shot put (F57)Sharmila Dhankar - Women's shot put (F57)Shilpa K Shyla - Women's shot put (F57)<h3>Boxing</h3>Jadumani Singh - Men's 55 kgSachin Siwach - Men's 60 kgAditya Pratap Singh - Men's 65 kgSumit Kundu - Men's 70 kgAnkush Ankush - Men's 80 kgKapil Pokhariya - Men's 90 kgNarender Berwal - Men's 90+ kg ySakshi Choudhary - Women's 51 kgPreeti Pawar - Women's 54 kgJasmine Lamboria - Women's 57 kgPriya Ghanghas - Women's 60 kgParveen Hooda - Women's 65 kgArundhati Choudhary - Women's 70 kgLovlina Borgohain - Women's 75 kg<h3>Judo</h3>Harsh Singh - Men's 60 kgRohit Basir Majgul - Men's 66 kgArun Kumar - Men's 73 kgHarsh Tokas - Men's 81 kgKaranjit Singh Maan - Men's 90 kgAvtar Singh - Men's 100 kgYash Ghanghas - Men's 100+ kgAsmita Dey - Women's 48 kgShraddha Kadabul Chopade - Women's 52 kgYamini Mourya - Women's 57 kgUnnati Sharma - Women's 63 kgInunganbi Takhellambam - Women's 70 kgIshroop Narang - Women's 78 kgTulika Maan - Women's 78+ kg<h3>Swimming</h3>Srihari Nataraj - men's 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relayAryan Nehra - men's 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 1500m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relaySajan Prakash - men's 50m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m freestyleAneesh S Gowda - men's 200m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relayDhakshan Shashikumar - men's 400m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay<h3>Swimming (Para)</h3>Ravi Veera Venkata Budigina - Freestyle 50 m S7Ali Imam - Freestyle100 m S13Suyash Narayan Jadhav - Freestyle 50 m S7Chaitanya Vishwas Kulkarni - Freestyle 200 m S14Swatik Patil - Freestyle 50 m S7<h3>Track cycling</h3>Ronaldo Singh Laitonjam - 1000m time trialDavid Beckham Elkatohchoongo - Men's Elite KeirinJemsh Singh Keithellakram - Men's Elite KeirinDinesh Kumar - Men's Endurance / Pursuit formatsRojit Singh Yanglem - Men's Endurance / Pursuit formatsSekhon Harshveer Singh - Men's 4,000m Team Pursuit<h3>Track cycling (Para)</h3>Lisha Das - Women's Track Cycling<h3>Weightlifting</h3>Rishikanta Singh - Men's 60 kgM Raja - Men's 65 kgAjaya Babu - Men's 79 kgDilbag Singh - Men's 94 kgLovepreet Singh - Men's 110+ kgMirabai Chanu - Women's 48 kgGyaneshwari Yadav - Women's 53 kgBindyarani Devi - Women's 58 kgHarjinder Kaur - Women's 69 kgSanjana - Women's 77 kgSeram Nirupama Devi - Women's 86 kgMartina Devi - Women's 86+ kg<h3>Artistic Gymnastic</h3>Tapan Mohanty - Men's Team all-aroundTapeshwarnath Das - Men's Team all-aroundSwatish KP - Men's Team all-aroundSatyajit Mondal - Men's Team all-aroundPranati Nayak - Women's Team all-aroundNishka Agarwal - Women's Team all-aroundEshita Rewale - Women's Team all-aroundProtistha Samanta - Women's Team all-around<h3>3x3 Basketball (Para)</h3>Reena Rameshchandra Gupta - Women's WheelchairIrengbam Ritu Chanu - Women's WheelchairJadhav Minakshi Harichandra - Women's WheelchairRayannavar Laxmi Rayappa - Women's Wheelchair

A total of 126 Indian athletes are part of the contingent, vying for the medals across all sports. India has sent 77 male and 48 female athletes to the games including in para sports.

The Commonwealth Games 2026 are set to being on July 23 in Glasgow, Scotland with about 3,000 athletes from 74 countries taking part in 13 disciplines including para sports. A total of 126 Indian athletes are part of the contingent, vying for the medals across all sports. India has sent 77 male and 48 female athletes to the games including in para sports. Who are Indian athletes participating in Commonwealth Games 2026? Also Read - FIFA 2026 | Argentina star Messi reacts to heartbreaking loss vs Spain in final The highest athletes are in Athletics where 32 players will try and win a medal in which 10 are women and 22 males. In other sports the number of athletes is: boxing (14), judo (14), weightlifting (12), track cycling (6), artistic gymnastic (8), bowls (6), and swimming (5). Among para athletes the number is: athletics (11), wheelchair basketball (4), powerlifting (7), swimming (6), and track cycling (1). Here's list athletes in each sport: Track Gurindervir Singh - Men's 100 metres Animesh Kujur - Men's 200 metres Vishal TK - Men's 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relay Rajesh Ramesh - Men's 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relay Gulveer Singh - Men's 5000 metres, Men's 10,000 metres Tejas Shirse - Men's 110 metres hurdles Yashas Palaksha - Men's 400 metres hurdles Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan - Men's 400 metres hurdles Rashdeep Kaur - Women's 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relay Neeru Pathak - Women's 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relay Ansa Babu - Women's 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relay Parul Chaudhary - Women's 3000 metres s'chase, Women's 5000 metres Priyanka Goswami - Women's 10,000 metres walk Ravina Gaikwad - Women's 10,000 metres walk Field Dev Meena - Men's pole vault Kuldeep Kumar - Men's pole vault Sarvesh Anil Kushare - Men's high jump Aadarsh Ram J - Men's high jump Tejaswin Shankar - Men's high jump, Men's decathlon Murali Sreeshankar - Men's long jump Lokesh Sathyanathan - Men's long jump Praveen Chithravel - Men's triple jump Selva Prabhu - Men's triple jump Samardeep Singh Gill - Men's shot put Tajinderpal Singh Toor - Men's shot put Neeraj Chopra - Men's javelin throw Rohit Yadav - Men's javelin throw Yash Vir Singh - Men's javelin throw Pooja Singh - Women's high jump Manpreet Kaur - Women's shot put Seema Kaliramna - Women's discus throw Nidhi Rani - Women's discus throw Track (Para) Rakeshbhai Bhatt - Men's 100 metres (T38) Shreyansh Trivedi - Men's 100 metres (T38) Mohammed Basil M - Men's 100 metres (T47) Dilip Mahadu Gavit - Men's 100 metres (T47) Ramesh Shanmugam - Men's 1500 metres (T54) Field (Para) Devender Kumar - Men's discus throw (F44) Sagar Thayat - Men's discus throw (F44) Shubham Juyal - Men's shot put (F57) Soman Rana - Men's shot put (F57) Sharmila Dhankar - Women's shot put (F57) Shilpa K Shyla - Women's shot put (F57) Boxing Jadumani Singh - Men's 55 kg Sachin Siwach - Men's 60 kg Aditya Pratap Singh - Men's 65 kg Sumit Kundu - Men's 70 kg Ankush Ankush - Men's 80 kg Kapil Pokhariya - Men's 90 kg Narender Berwal - Men's 90+ kg y Sakshi Choudhary - Women's 51 kg Preeti Pawar - Women's 54 kg Jasmine Lamboria - Women's 57 kg Priya Ghanghas - Women's 60 kg Parveen Hooda - Women's 65 kg Arundhati Choudhary - Women's 70 kg Lovlina Borgohain - Women's 75 kg Judo Harsh Singh - Men's 60 kg Rohit Basir Majgul - Men's 66 kg Arun Kumar - Men's 73 kg Harsh Tokas - Men's 81 kg Karanjit Singh Maan - Men's 90 kg Avtar Singh - Men's 100 kg Yash Ghanghas - Men's 100+ kg Asmita Dey - Women's 48 kg Shraddha Kadabul Chopade - Women's 52 kg Yamini Mourya - Women's 57 kg Unnati Sharma - Women's 63 kg Inunganbi Takhellambam - Women's 70 kg Ishroop Narang - Women's 78 kg Tulika Maan - Women's 78+ kg Swimming Srihari Nataraj - men's 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay Aryan Nehra - men's 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 1500m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay Sajan Prakash - men's 50m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m freestyle Aneesh S Gowda - men's 200m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay Dhakshan Shashikumar - men's 400m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay Swimming (Para) Ravi Veera Venkata Budigina - Freestyle 50 m S7 Ali Imam - Freestyle100 m S13 Suyash Narayan Jadhav - Freestyle 50 m S7 Chaitanya Vishwas Kulkarni - Freestyle 200 m S14 Swatik Patil - Freestyle 50 m S7 Track cycling Ronaldo Singh Laitonjam - 1000m time trial David Beckham Elkatohchoongo - Men's Elite Keirin Jemsh Singh Keithellakram - Men's Elite Keirin Dinesh Kumar - Men's Endurance / Pursuit formats Rojit Singh Yanglem - Men's Endurance / Pursuit formats Sekhon Harshveer Singh - Men's 4,000m Team Pursuit Track cycling (Para) Lisha Das - Women's Track Cycling Weightlifting Rishikanta Singh - Men's 60 kg M Raja - Men's 65 kg Ajaya Babu - Men's 79 kg Dilbag Singh - Men's 94 kg Lovepreet Singh - Men's 110+ kg Mirabai Chanu - Women's 48 kg Gyaneshwari Yadav - Women's 53 kg Bindyarani Devi - Women's 58 kg Harjinder Kaur - Women's 69 kg Sanjana - Women's 77 kg Seram Nirupama Devi - Women's 86 kg Martina Devi - Women's 86+ kg Artistic Gymnastic Tapan Mohanty - Men's Team all-around Tapeshwarnath Das - Men's Team all-around Swatish KP - Men's Team all-around Satyajit Mondal - Men's Team all-around Pranati Nayak - Women's Team all-around Nishka Agarwal - Women's Team all-around Eshita Rewale - Women's Team all-around Protistha Samanta - Women's Team all-around 3x3 Basketball (Para) Reena Rameshchandra Gupta - Women's Wheelchair Irengbam Ritu Chanu - Women's Wheelchair Jadhav Minakshi Harichandra - Women's Wheelchair Rayannavar Laxmi Rayappa - Women's Wheelchair

A total of 126 Indian athletes are part of the contingent, vying for the medals across all sports. India has sent 77 male and 48 female athletes to the games including in para sports.

Commonwealth Games 2026: Meet India's 126-athlete contingent for Glasgow Games

In today's top India news:

Bombay High Court cancels the bail of Shiv Sena Corporation member Mahesh Mhatre in the assault case involving hospital staff.
Bulldozer action carried out against an office linked to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee over alleged building violations.
Olympic medalists Mirabai Chanu and Neeraj Chopra to lead India's contingent at the 2026 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust receives numerous applications for its first Chief Executive Officer amid donation misappropriation allegations.

Bombay HC cancels Shiv Sena leader's bail | Abhishek Banerjee office demolished | Commonwealth Games

The 2026 Asian Senior Fencing Championships at the Bharat Mandapam concluded with historically significant milestones for the 24-member Indian contingent. Hosting the premier continental championship for the first time, Indian fencers went toe-to-toe with global powerhouses from Japan and South Korea, delivering high-resilience displays in both individual and team categories. The absolute highlight for the home nation was the Men's Foil Team securing direct qualification for the upcoming Asian Games, proving that India is rapidly transforming into a formidable force on the international strip.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-tops-aiu-list-of-countries-with-most-doping-offenders-expert-shares-reason-behind-menace-and-ways-to-overcome-1783073159930">India tops AIU list of countries with most doping offenders: Expert shares reason behind menace and ways to overcome</a>The Men’s Foil Team (8th in Asia) emerged as the history-makers of the tournament. The quartet of Sachin, Sanasam Hemash Singh, Tejas Manoj Patil, and Aditya executed an incredible string of tactical relay bouts to finish in the elite top 8, officially securing India's direct qualification berth for the Asian Games. On the individual front, Kanupriya Chawla delivered India’s best individual result of the entire championship in the Women's Foil category. Defying initial pool projections, she advanced deep into the knockout brackets to finish a brilliant 20th in Asia, while teammates Joys Ashitha Stalinraj (43rd), Naorem Mina Devi (45th), and Sonia Devi Waikhom (46th) gained massive top-tier experience. In the Men's Foil individual events, Sachin led the side with a highly commendable 25th-place finish. His teammates, Sanasam Hemash Singh, Aditya, and Tejas Manoj Patil, fought through fiercely competitive pools before bowing out early against deep East Asian rosters. Meanwhile, the Women’s Foil Team carried excellent momentum from Chawla’s individual run into the relay grids, narrowly finishing just outside the top 8. Despite the demanding 45-point stamina curve against Olympic-level rosters, their resilience secured valuable ranking points for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.The Men's Sabre individual discipline saw India's most balanced and deep outing, successfully placing three athletes in the prestigious Asian top 32. Vishal Thapar led the charge with an aggressive run to finish 22nd overall, followed closely by Karan Singh (25th) and Gisho Nidhi Kumaresan Padma (28th), while Lakshay Badser narrowly missed the knockout cuts to finish 33rd. In the Women's Sabre individual events, trailblazing Olympian Bhavani Devi fought valiantly under immense home-crowd pressure. Though stopped in the intense direct elimination rounds, she ultimately locked in a 23rd-place finish in Asia. The Women's Sabre Team—with Bhavani Devi operating as the vital anchor alongside Shreya Gupta, Jefarlin J.S., and Shruti Joshi—showed remarkable technical synergy in the early and middle cycles to earn a resilient Top 10 finish in Asia after a hard-fought battle against a heavily favored East Asian roster. The Men’s Sabre Team mirrored this success as the quartet of Gisho Nidhi, Vishal Thapar, Karan Singh, and Lakshay Badser displayed phenomenal chemistry through difficult direct-elimination brackets to secure their own strong Top 10 finish in Asia, locking in crucial ranking points for the LA 2028 roadmap.In the Women's Épée individual field, Prachi Lohan stood out as the top performer for India, securing a highly respectable 22nd-place finish in Asia. Commonwealth Junior silver medalist Taniksha Khatri, along with teammates Mitva Jesangbhai Chaudhari and Yashkeerat Kaur Hayer, faced a brutal draw against top-tier Chinese and South Korean fencers, bowing out in the early knockout phases. The Women’s Épée Team showed remarkable resilience by bouncing back after those tough individual draws, putting together a cohesive performance to secure a strong 9th-place finish in Asia. The Men’s Épée individual contingent—Shrejin Rajendran Shanthim, Joseph Bennet, Shaurya Ashwini, and Aloshious Koovakkal Joshy—gained crucial international exposure in highly defensive pool matches. They carried that experience into the Men's Épée Team relays, displaying immense grit to defend their strips and solidify India's widespread top-10 presence across the team categories.Reflecting on the monumental home campaign and looking ahead to the critical multi-sport calendar, Mr. Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General of the Fencing Association of India (FAI) and Fencing Confederation of Asia (FCA), stated: "Hosting the Senior Asian Fencing Championships for the first time is a watershed moment that will permanently redefine the trajectory of Indian sports. Our fencers have given a very good performance on home soil, proving they can match strides with the world's absolute elite. This tournament provides unprecedented exposure to world-class pressure under the eyes of home fans. The experience gained here, alongside the Men’s Foil team securing direct qualification, lays down a definitive foundational path for our athletes. It gives them the vital competitive edge, confidence, and tactical depth needed to aggressively contend for the podium at the upcoming Asian Games."With the continental chapter successfully closed, the Indian contingent will instantly pivot to the global stage. The valuable ranking points and technical growth achieved at Bharat Mandapam serve as the perfect launchpad for the upcoming World Fencing Championships. Competing against the absolute best from every continent, India's elite fencers are primed to carry this historic momentum forward, testing their mettle on the global circuit as they continue building toward a historic roadmap for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.&nbsp;

The Men’s Foil Team (8th in Asia) emerged as the history-makers of the tournament. In the individual front, Kanupriya Chawla delivered India’s best individual result of the entire championship in the Women's Foil category.

The 2026 Asian Senior Fencing Championships at the Bharat Mandapam concluded with historically significant milestones for the 24-member Indian contingent. Hosting the premier continental championship for the first time, Indian fencers went toe-to-toe with global powerhouses from Japan and South Korea, delivering high-resilience displays in both individual and team categories. The absolute highlight for the home nation was the Men's Foil Team securing direct qualification for the upcoming Asian Games, proving that India is rapidly transforming into a formidable force on the international strip. Also Read - India tops AIU list of countries with most doping offenders: Expert shares reason behind menace and ways to overcome The Men’s Foil Team (8th in Asia) emerged as the history-makers of the tournament. The quartet of Sachin, Sanasam Hemash Singh, Tejas Manoj Patil, and Aditya executed an incredible string of tactical relay bouts to finish in the elite top 8, officially securing India's direct qualification berth for the Asian Games. On the individual front, Kanupriya Chawla delivered India’s best individual result of the entire championship in the Women's Foil category. Defying initial pool projections, she advanced deep into the knockout brackets to finish a brilliant 20th in Asia, while teammates Joys Ashitha Stalinraj (43rd), Naorem Mina Devi (45th), and Sonia Devi Waikhom (46th) gained massive top-tier experience. In the Men's Foil individual events, Sachin led the side with a highly commendable 25th-place finish. His teammates, Sanasam Hemash Singh, Aditya, and Tejas Manoj Patil, fought through fiercely competitive pools before bowing out early against deep East Asian rosters. Meanwhile, the Women’s Foil Team carried excellent momentum from Chawla’s individual run into the relay grids, narrowly finishing just outside the top 8. Despite the demanding 45-point stamina curve against Olympic-level rosters, their resilience secured valuable ranking points for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle. The Men's Sabre individual discipline saw India's most balanced and deep outing, successfully placing three athletes in the prestigious Asian top 32. Vishal Thapar led the charge with an aggressive run to finish 22nd overall, followed closely by Karan Singh (25th) and Gisho Nidhi Kumaresan Padma (28th), while Lakshay Badser narrowly missed the knockout cuts to finish 33rd. In the Women's Sabre individual events, trailblazing Olympian Bhavani Devi fought valiantly under immense home-crowd pressure. Though stopped in the intense direct elimination rounds, she ultimately locked in a 23rd-place finish in Asia. The Women's Sabre Team—with Bhavani Devi operating as the vital anchor alongside Shreya Gupta, Jefarlin J.S., and Shruti Joshi—showed remarkable technical synergy in the early and middle cycles to earn a resilient Top 10 finish in Asia after a hard-fought battle against a heavily favored East Asian roster. The Men’s Sabre Team mirrored this success as the quartet of Gisho Nidhi, Vishal Thapar, Karan Singh, and Lakshay Badser displayed phenomenal chemistry through difficult direct-elimination brackets to secure their own strong Top 10 finish in Asia, locking in crucial ranking points for the LA 2028 roadmap. In the Women's Épée individual field, Prachi Lohan stood out as the top performer for India, securing a highly respectable 22nd-place finish in Asia. Commonwealth Junior silver medalist Taniksha Khatri, along with teammates Mitva Jesangbhai Chaudhari and Yashkeerat Kaur Hayer, faced a brutal draw against top-tier Chinese and South Korean fencers, bowing out in the early knockout phases. The Women’s Épée Team showed remarkable resilience by bouncing back after those tough individual draws, putting together a cohesive performance to secure a strong 9th-place finish in Asia. The Men’s Épée individual contingent—Shrejin Rajendran Shanthim, Joseph Bennet, Shaurya Ashwini, and Aloshious Koovakkal Joshy—gained crucial international exposure in highly defensive pool matches. They carried that experience into the Men's Épée Team relays, displaying immense grit to defend their strips and solidify India's widespread top-10 presence across the team categories. Reflecting on the monumental home campaign and looking ahead to the critical multi-sport calendar, Mr. Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General of the Fencing Association of India (FAI) and Fencing Confederation of Asia (FCA), stated: "Hosting the Senior Asian Fencing Championships for the first time is a watershed moment that will permanently redefine the trajectory of Indian sports. Our fencers have given a very good performance on home soil, proving they can match strides with the world's absolute elite. This tournament provides unprecedented exposure to world-class pressure under the eyes of home fans. The experience gained here, alongside the Men’s Foil team securing direct qualification, lays down a definitive foundational path for our athletes. It gives them the vital competitive edge, confidence, and tactical depth needed to aggressively contend for the podium at the upcoming Asian Games." With the continental chapter successfully closed, the Indian contingent will instantly pivot to the global stage. The valuable ranking points and technical growth achieved at Bharat Mandapam serve as the perfect launchpad for the upcoming World Fencing Championships. Competing against the absolute best from every continent, India's elite fencers are primed to carry this historic momentum forward, testing their mettle on the global circuit as they continue building toward a historic roadmap for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.

The Men’s Foil Team (8th in Asia) emerged as the history-makers of the tournament. In the individual front, Kanupriya Chawla delivered India’s best individual result of the entire championship in the Women's Foil category.

India men's foil fencing team secure qualification in upcoming Asian Games 2026

The Athletics Integrity Unit, a body founded by World Athletic, has published the June 2026 list of countries with most doping offenders and India is at the top of that list with 162 individuals. The list comes at a time when India is preparing for some high profile events including Asian Games 2026, Commonwealth Games 2026, and the LA Olympics 2028. India's top ranking in the list highlights the challenge of doping the country faces. India has ranked in the top two for the most Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) in athletics between 2022 and 2025.According to AIU, India recorded 48 ADRVs (ranked 2nd) in 2022, 63 (ranked 2nd) in 2023, 71 (ranked 1st) in 2024 and 30 ADRVs (ranked 1st) in 2025.WION spoke to Dr. Sumiran Passey, a Sports Medicine expert based out of India's National Capital Region (NCR), and he conceded that 'doping is very tricky thing to navigate around.'<h2>Does India have a doping problem among athletes?</h2>Speaking on the issue, Dr. Passey acknowledged India having 'a huge number of athletes working on different levels who gradually progress to national levels,' but noted that "there are many loopholes where an athlete are not aware of what actually is doping and what actually is not dope doping. What substance are usually included in doping and what substance are not.""Also, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) upgrades the list of banned substance on first of January every year. They add on what substance this year will be added to the existing list for doping."Now, when any athlete is training or injured, not everyone has an access to a sports physician. They go to their places, they meet a lot of local physicians or local specialist on for their issues specifically, and then athletes are put on medication. These physicians/specialists sometimes are not aware of that there is anything like doping or the substances or some substances of a medication is included in WADA doping list."So when an athlete takes these medication or the supplements just for getting cured, and go back to the sports where he/she is tested, then they found out to have broken the rules."Dr. Passey, however, agrees that "WADA list is huge. People cannot remember the list, but everyone can have access to the list. That way at least when they're prescribing they can just crosscheck from that list."<h2>What the government is doing about it?</h2>The Indian government had passed the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 to be in sync with WADA's testing. The government data also showed that NADA increased testing from 1,899 tests (2021) to 7,466 tests (2024), with positive cases rising from 42 to 260, reflecting enhanced surveillance as well as persistent violations.When asked to Dr. Passey, he outlined that awareness, for both doctors and athletes, is the key to deal with the menace of doping"The knowledge of doping should be spread to all the doctors, the budding doctors as well as the existing one who are into practice through a lot of educational programs for them. And, the same training has to be given to every athlete from grassroot level onwards so they are aware that there's something like doping. The doctor who is prescribing anything should also be aware that there's something like doping."What it would is if at least if doctor doesn't know the athlete can always ask, please take care of the dope or vice versa. And, it's not just that the athlete is injured during because of a sports injury, it could be anything. Any small issue in any organ in the body can lead to a treatment and for that and the doping can be the outcome," he added.He also said that while "such programs (awareness) are already been conducted in such in big sporting authorities where the athletes have been trained, but they have to be a bit more frequent and they have to be so repeated that it's in ingrained in athletes.""It is also for anyone associated with the athlete like parents, coaches or even the friends who been travelling with them. It could be anyone and they all should be aware because doping just doesn't include that some substances is given, even a presence of of trace amounts can lead to doping."

India's with 162 individuals, is the top ranked country on the AIU list for highest number of doping offenders.

The Athletics Integrity Unit, a body founded by World Athletic, has published the June 2026 list of countries with most doping offenders and India is at the top of that list with 162 individuals. The list comes at a time when India is preparing for some high profile events including Asian Games 2026, Commonwealth Games 2026, and the LA Olympics 2028. India's top ranking in the list highlights the challenge of doping the country faces. India has ranked in the top two for the most Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) in athletics between 2022 and 2025. According to AIU, India recorded 48 ADRVs (ranked 2nd) in 2022, 63 (ranked 2nd) in 2023, 71 (ranked 1st) in 2024 and 30 ADRVs (ranked 1st) in 2025. WION spoke to Dr. Sumiran Passey, a Sports Medicine expert based out of India's National Capital Region (NCR), and he conceded that 'doping is very tricky thing to navigate around.' Does India have a doping problem among athletes? Speaking on the issue, Dr. Passey acknowledged India having 'a huge number of athletes working on different levels who gradually progress to national levels,' but noted that "there are many loopholes where an athlete are not aware of what actually is doping and what actually is not dope doping. What substance are usually included in doping and what substance are not." "Also, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) upgrades the list of banned substance on first of January every year. They add on what substance this year will be added to the existing list for doping. "Now, when any athlete is training or injured, not everyone has an access to a sports physician. They go to their places, they meet a lot of local physicians or local specialist on for their issues specifically, and then athletes are put on medication. These physicians/specialists sometimes are not aware of that there is anything like doping or the substances or some substances of a medication is included in WADA doping list. "So when an athlete takes these medication or the supplements just for getting cured, and go back to the sports where he/she is tested, then they found out to have broken the rules." Dr. Passey, however, agrees that "WADA list is huge. People cannot remember the list, but everyone can have access to the list. That way at least when they're prescribing they can just crosscheck from that list." What the government is doing about it? The Indian government had passed the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 to be in sync with WADA's testing. The government data also showed that NADA increased testing from 1,899 tests (2021) to 7,466 tests (2024), with positive cases rising from 42 to 260, reflecting enhanced surveillance as well as persistent violations. When asked to Dr. Passey, he outlined that awareness, for both doctors and athletes, is the key to deal with the menace of doping "The knowledge of doping should be spread to all the doctors, the budding doctors as well as the existing one who are into practice through a lot of educational programs for them. And, the same training has to be given to every athlete from grassroot level onwards so they are aware that there's something like doping. The doctor who is prescribing anything should also be aware that there's something like doping. "What it would is if at least if doctor doesn't know the athlete can always ask, please take care of the dope or vice versa. And, it's not just that the athlete is injured during because of a sports injury, it could be anything. Any small issue in any organ in the body can lead to a treatment and for that and the doping can be the outcome," he added. He also said that while "such programs (awareness) are already been conducted in such in big sporting authorities where the athletes have been trained, but they have to be a bit more frequent and they have to be so repeated that it's in ingrained in athletes." "It is also for anyone associated with the athlete like parents, coaches or even the friends who been travelling with them. It could be anyone and they all should be aware because doping just doesn't include that some substances is given, even a presence of of trace amounts can lead to doping."

India's with 162 individuals, is the top ranked country on the AIU list for highest number of doping offenders.

India tops AIU list of countries with most doping offenders: Expert shares reason behind menace and ways to overcome

Indian swimming has never had more talent, better facilities, or stronger support systems. Yet the country continues to wait for its breakthrough moment on the world stage. That is the candid assessment of former Asian Games medallist and current national swimming coach Sandeep Sejwal, who believes India has the ingredients required for success but still lacks the ecosystem that consistently produces world-class swimmers.&nbsp;Speaking about India's position compared to global powers such as China, Australia, and the United States, Sejwal, who gives training at the Inspire Institute of Sport, admitted that the gap remains significant. However, he was quick to point out that the issue is not a shortage of talent. "We have the talent. We have the facilities. We have the mindset and the right people," Sejwal explained. The challenge, according to him, is experience and the absence of a system that exposes swimmers to elite competition from a young age.&nbsp;Unlike countries that regularly produce Olympic champions, Indian swimmers are still learning how to compete at the highest level. Sejwal believes that sustained exposure and long-term planning are essential if India wants to bridge that gap. One of his strongest observations was directed towards the sport's scheduling structure. He argued that annual planning is no longer enough and called for a four-year competition calendar that aligns with major international events such as the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and Olympics. "Planning in March for a competition in June doesn't give athletes enough time to prepare," he said, stressing the importance of long-term athlete development.&nbsp;For now, Sejwal's immediate focus remains on veteran swimmer Sajjan Prakash, who is targeting both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. According to the coach, recent performances place Sajjan among the leading contenders in his event, with data suggesting he is currently ranked among the top swimmers in contention. While Sajjan has not bettered his personal best in several years, Sejwal remains optimistic. He revealed that the swimmer has steadily improved over the last year and believes a personal best could be within reach by the time the Commonwealth Games arrive.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-for-india-virat-kohli-ruled-out-of-afghanistan-odi-series-with-hamstring-injury-report-1780550854358">Big blow for India! Virat Kohli ruled out of Afghanistan ODI series with hamstring injury: Report</a>&nbsp;The biggest challenge is no longer speed but recovery. At 32, Sajjan cannot train the same way he did in his early twenties, when he routinely completed punishing training volumes and bounced back almost immediately. The coaching team is now experimenting with recovery strategies, including tailored nutrition plans, ice baths, stretching protocols, and massage therapies to ensure he can maintain peak performance during major competitions.&nbsp;Despite the physical challenges, Sejwal credits Sajjan's mental toughness as one of his greatest strengths. The swimmer continues to embrace difficult training sessions and remains fully committed to his final major championship cycle. Beyond Sajjan, Sejwal identified a rising star who could represent the future of Indian swimming: Tirthank Pegu. The youngster recently won silver at the Asian Youth Games and has rapidly improved his timings over the past year. Sejwal believes Pegu possesses physical abilities and could become one of India's next international success stories if he continues on his current trajectory.&nbsp;Interestingly, Sejwal believes today's generation of swimmers learns differently from previous generations. Rather than learning through observation, young athletes often learn through failure. International setbacks, he says, become valuable lessons that help shape future champions. The conversation also highlighted the role of the Inspire Institute of Sport, which Sejwal described as one of India's most important sporting ecosystems. While world-class facilities are important, he believes IIS's greatest strength lies in its coaching expertise and collaborative culture.&nbsp;At the campus, swimming coaches regularly exchange ideas with athletics, wrestling, and other sports programs, creating an environment where innovation and learning happen daily. For Sejwal, this culture of shared knowledge may ultimately be what helps India take the next step. The message from one of India's most respected swimming minds is clear: the country no longer needs to build talent. It needs to build a system capable of turning that talent into world-class results. And if that system finally comes together, Indian swimming's long-awaited breakthrough may not be far away.

Sandeep Sejwal opens up on Indian swimming's biggest challenges, Sajjan Prakash's Commonwealth Games medal hopes, rising star Tirthank Pegu, and the need for a long-term roadmap

Indian swimming has never had more talent, better facilities, or stronger support systems. Yet the country continues to wait for its breakthrough moment on the world stage. That is the candid assessment of former Asian Games medallist and current national swimming coach Sandeep Sejwal, who believes India has the ingredients required for success but still lacks the ecosystem that consistently produces world-class swimmers. Speaking about India's position compared to global powers such as China, Australia, and the United States, Sejwal, who gives training at the Inspire Institute of Sport, admitted that the gap remains significant. However, he was quick to point out that the issue is not a shortage of talent. "We have the talent. We have the facilities. We have the mindset and the right people," Sejwal explained. The challenge, according to him, is experience and the absence of a system that exposes swimmers to elite competition from a young age. Unlike countries that regularly produce Olympic champions, Indian swimmers are still learning how to compete at the highest level. Sejwal believes that sustained exposure and long-term planning are essential if India wants to bridge that gap. One of his strongest observations was directed towards the sport's scheduling structure. He argued that annual planning is no longer enough and called for a four-year competition calendar that aligns with major international events such as the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and Olympics. "Planning in March for a competition in June doesn't give athletes enough time to prepare," he said, stressing the importance of long-term athlete development. For now, Sejwal's immediate focus remains on veteran swimmer Sajjan Prakash, who is targeting both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. According to the coach, recent performances place Sajjan among the leading contenders in his event, with data suggesting he is currently ranked among the top swimmers in contention. While Sajjan has not bettered his personal best in several years, Sejwal remains optimistic. He revealed that the swimmer has steadily improved over the last year and believes a personal best could be within reach by the time the Commonwealth Games arrive. Also Read: Big blow for India! Virat Kohli ruled out of Afghanistan ODI series with hamstring injury: Report The biggest challenge is no longer speed but recovery. At 32, Sajjan cannot train the same way he did in his early twenties, when he routinely completed punishing training volumes and bounced back almost immediately. The coaching team is now experimenting with recovery strategies, including tailored nutrition plans, ice baths, stretching protocols, and massage therapies to ensure he can maintain peak performance during major competitions. Despite the physical challenges, Sejwal credits Sajjan's mental toughness as one of his greatest strengths. The swimmer continues to embrace difficult training sessions and remains fully committed to his final major championship cycle. Beyond Sajjan, Sejwal identified a rising star who could represent the future of Indian swimming: Tirthank Pegu. The youngster recently won silver at the Asian Youth Games and has rapidly improved his timings over the past year. Sejwal believes Pegu possesses physical abilities and could become one of India's next international success stories if he continues on his current trajectory. Interestingly, Sejwal believes today's generation of swimmers learns differently from previous generations. Rather than learning through observation, young athletes often learn through failure. International setbacks, he says, become valuable lessons that help shape future champions. The conversation also highlighted the role of the Inspire Institute of Sport, which Sejwal described as one of India's most important sporting ecosystems. While world-class facilities are important, he believes IIS's greatest strength lies in its coaching expertise and collaborative culture. At the campus, swimming coaches regularly exchange ideas with athletics, wrestling, and other sports programs, creating an environment where innovation and learning happen daily. For Sejwal, this culture of shared knowledge may ultimately be what helps India take the next step. The message from one of India's most respected swimming minds is clear: the country no longer needs to build talent. It needs to build a system capable of turning that talent into world-class results. And if that system finally comes together, Indian swimming's long-awaited breakthrough may not be far away.

Sandeep Sejwal says Indian swimming has talent and facilities but needs a long-term system, while Sajjan Prakash eyes Commonwealth success

'India has the talent, but not yet the system': Coach Sandeep Sejwal's honest verdict on Indian swimming

The countdown for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has begun and India’s top athletes are gearing up for the multi-sport event. Among them is a 30-year-old triple jumper from Kerala, Abdulla Aboobacker. The 30-year-old is looking to build on his impressive performance in Birmingham.&nbsp;India won 66 medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Aboobacker was among them. &nbsp;He claimed the silver medal in the men’s triple jump with a best effort of 17.02 metres in his fifth attempt. &nbsp;That event proved historic for India. Aboobacker and Eldhose Paul delivered the country’s first-ever 1-2 finish in Commonwealth Games athletics.&nbsp;&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;The moment could have been even bigger, but Praveen Chithravel narrowly missed out on a podium with a fourth-place finish. &nbsp;Now, Aboobacker has his sights set on going one step further. &nbsp;The 30-year-old had an inconsistent season last year but has shown signs of regaining form.&nbsp;&nbsp;He began his 2026 season with jumps of 16.82 metres and 16.83 metres, performances that have given him confidence ahead of the Glasgow Games, which are scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;“I am not looking at the distance. I am just trying to make amends for my mistakes. If I do that, my distance and performance will be increased, and I will at least be on the podium. That is my target (in 2026 CWG)," Aboobacker told PTI in an interview on Tuesday.&nbsp;“I did 17.02m in the 2022 CWG. Before that, no one knew my history. I worked so hard to get there. I corrected my mistakes. I did everything."

India won 66 medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Aboobacker was among them.  He claimed the silver medal in the men’s triple jump with a best effort of 17.02 metres in his fifth attempt. 

The countdown for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has begun and India’s top athletes are gearing up for the multi-sport event. Among them is a 30-year-old triple jumper from Kerala, Abdulla Aboobacker. The 30-year-old is looking to build on his impressive performance in Birmingham. India won 66 medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Aboobacker was among them. He claimed the silver medal in the men’s triple jump with a best effort of 17.02 metres in his fifth attempt. That event proved historic for India. Aboobacker and Eldhose Paul delivered the country’s first-ever 1-2 finish in Commonwealth Games athletics. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions The moment could have been even bigger, but Praveen Chithravel narrowly missed out on a podium with a fourth-place finish. Now, Aboobacker has his sights set on going one step further. The 30-year-old had an inconsistent season last year but has shown signs of regaining form. He began his 2026 season with jumps of 16.82 metres and 16.83 metres, performances that have given him confidence ahead of the Glasgow Games, which are scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL “I am not looking at the distance. I am just trying to make amends for my mistakes. If I do that, my distance and performance will be increased, and I will at least be on the podium. That is my target (in 2026 CWG)," Aboobacker told PTI in an interview on Tuesday. “I did 17.02m in the 2022 CWG. Before that, no one knew my history. I worked so hard to get there. I corrected my mistakes. I did everything."

India won 66 medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Aboobacker was among them. &nbsp;He claimed the silver medal in the men’s triple jump with a best effort of 17.02 metres in his fifth attempt.&nbsp;

Abdulla Aboobacker eyes back-to-back medals at 2026 CWG in Glasgow

The next edition of the Commonwealth Games will be held in 2026 with a trimmed&nbsp;roster of 10 sports, following the exclusion of cricket, hockey, wrestling, badminton and shooting. Thus, the 23rd edition -- to be from July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow -- will be held without a number of sports in a bid to remain budget-friendly. This move is set to impact India's medal chances, who have been top contenders in sports such as cricket, badminton, hockey, etc.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has confirmed the reduction in the sporting events, with the Glasgow 2026 Games featuring a trimmed schedule. The 2022 edition was held with 19 sports in Birmingham. Sports like&nbsp;table tennis, squash, and road racing have also been excluded.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/los-angeles-olympics-2028-to-host-cricket-matches-in-new-york-report-769638">Los Angeles Olympics 2028 to host cricket matches in New York: Report</a>

In a statement, the CGF mentioned the sports program, including Athletics and Para Athletics (Track &amp; Field), Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para Bowls, and 3—3 Basketball and 3—3 Wheelchair Basketball. Notably, shooting wasn't part of the 2022 edition as well, due to logistical&nbsp;reasons.

Initially, Victoria was set to host&nbsp;the Games, however,&nbsp;withdrew&nbsp;last year due to financial issues. Glasgow, thus, stepped&nbsp;in to host the quadrennial multi-sport games in 2026. This also marks Glasgow's return as the host city after 12 years, after the 2014 edition.

The forthcoming Games will take place across four venues: Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena (including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome), and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). The athletes and their support staff will be provided hotel accommodation as well.

For India, the news of the now-removed sports is a huge loss. Overall, hockey (more than five medals), wrestling (114 medals across categories), shooting (135 medals), badminton (31 medals) and cricket (where the women's team won silver in 2022) have been the prime reasons for India's stronghold in CWG history. In 2022, India won 61 medals, out of which 30 came from the now-removed sports.

The next edition of the Commonwealth Games will be held in 2026 with a trimmed roster of 10 sports, following the exclusion of cricket, hockey, wrestling, badminton and shooting.

The next edition of the Commonwealth Games will be held in 2026 with a trimmed roster of 10 sports, following the exclusion of cricket, hockey, wrestling, badminton and shooting. Thus, the 23rd edition -- to be from July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow -- will be held without a number of sports in a bid to remain budget-friendly. This move is set to impact India's medal chances, who have been top contenders in sports such as cricket, badminton, hockey, etc. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has confirmed the reduction in the sporting events, with the Glasgow 2026 Games featuring a trimmed schedule. The 2022 edition was held with 19 sports in Birmingham. Sports like table tennis, squash, and road racing have also been excluded. Also read: Los Angeles Olympics 2028 to host cricket matches in New York: Report In a statement, the CGF mentioned the sports program, including Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & Field), Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para Bowls, and 3—3 Basketball and 3—3 Wheelchair Basketball. Notably, shooting wasn't part of the 2022 edition as well, due to logistical reasons. Initially, Victoria was set to host the Games, however, withdrew last year due to financial issues. Glasgow, thus, stepped in to host the quadrennial multi-sport games in 2026. This also marks Glasgow's return as the host city after 12 years, after the 2014 edition. The forthcoming Games will take place across four venues: Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena (including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome), and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). The athletes and their support staff will be provided hotel accommodation as well. For India, the news of the now-removed sports is a huge loss. Overall, hockey (more than five medals), wrestling (114 medals across categories), shooting (135 medals), badminton (31 medals) and cricket (where the women's team won silver in 2022) have been the prime reasons for India's stronghold in CWG history. In 2022, India won 61 medals, out of which 30 came from the now-removed sports.

CWG 2026: Huge blow to India! Cricket, hockey, badminton and wrestling dropped from mega event

Australia's Victoria state will pay A$380 million ($243 million) to Commonwealth Games organisers, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said on Saturday, after it withdrew as 2026 event host citing a projected cost blowout.

In July, Victoria pulled out of hosting the quadrennial multi-sport event, which was to have been held in four regional hubs, with Andrews saying costs could have ballooned to more than A$7 billion from a budgeted A$2.6 billion.

The decision has raised the possibility that the Games may not take place for the first time since being cancelled due to the Second World War.

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In a joint statement issued by Andrews on Saturday, the Commonwealth Games Federation, Commonwealth Games Federation Partnerships, Commonwealth Games Australia and Victoria said they had "settled all their disputes regarding the cancellation of the multi-hub regional Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games".

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"The State of Victoria has agreed to pay the Commonwealth Games parties ... AUD $380 million," the statement said.

"The parties also agreed that the multi-hub regional model was more expensive to host than the traditional models."

Watch | Has China's growth story hit a roadblock?&nbsp;

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The payout comes after another blow was dealt to the long-running event when Canada's Alberta province earlier this month withdrew its support for the 2030 Games&nbsp;bid.

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Australia's Victoria state will pay A$380 million ($243 million) to Commonwealth Games organisers, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said on Saturday, after it withdrew as 2026 event host citing a projected cost blowout.

Australia's Victoria state will pay A$380 million ($243 million) to Commonwealth Games organisers, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said on Saturday, after it withdrew as 2026 event host citing a projected cost blowout. In July, Victoria pulled out of hosting the quadrennial multi-sport event, which was to have been held in four regional hubs, with Andrews saying costs could have ballooned to more than A$7 billion from a budgeted A$2.6 billion. The decision has raised the possibility that the Games may not take place for the first time since being cancelled due to the Second World War. Also Read | Brazil: Bolsonaro's legal troubles mount as SC Justice authorises probe into his finances In a joint statement issued by Andrews on Saturday, the Commonwealth Games Federation, Commonwealth Games Federation Partnerships, Commonwealth Games Australia and Victoria said they had "settled all their disputes regarding the cancellation of the multi-hub regional Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games". Also Read | Niger's new Prime Minister says no harm will come to captive President Mohamed Bazoum "The State of Victoria has agreed to pay the Commonwealth Games parties ... AUD $380 million," the statement said. "The parties also agreed that the multi-hub regional model was more expensive to host than the traditional models." Watch | Has China's growth story hit a roadblock? × The payout comes after another blow was dealt to the long-running event when Canada's Alberta province earlier this month withdrew its support for the 2030 Games bid. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Australian state to pay $243 million for withdrawing as 2026 Commonwealth Games host

Australia's Victoria state has been granted an exclusive negotiating period to secure hosting rights for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, officials said on Wednesday.

State capital Melbourne hosted the 2006 Commonwealth Games but premier Daniel Andrews said the 2026 edition would be focused on regional cities if the bid were successful.

"Victoria is Australia's sporting state, and, if awarded, the 2026 Commonwealth Games would demonstrate to the world a new way to deliver the competition," he said.

"We would hope to have the majority of events in our regional cities – to display the best of Victoria, create jobs and housing and infrastructure that will deliver for the long term."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/beijing-olympics-russian-kamila-valieva-had-3-drugs-used-to-treat-heart-conditions-in-sample-report-453687">Beijing Olympics: Russian Kamila Valieva had 3 drugs used to treat heart conditions in sample - Report</a>

Australia most recently hosted the multi-sport gathering for mostly former British colonies on the Gold Coast in 2018.

The quadrennial Games have struggled to remain relevant, with four of the last five Games held in Australia or Britain.

The English city of Birmingham is due to host the 2022 edition from July 28 to Aug. 8, after replacing South Africa who&nbsp;were stripped of them in 2017 over a lack of progress in their preparations. 
 
Birmingham was to have hosted the 2026 Games but was asked to fast-track preparations for 2022.

Outside Australia, no other nations or cities expressed interest in taking the vacant 2026 slot.

Australian media have speculated the 92-year-old Games may be doomed if talks between the Victorian government and Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) fail.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/beijing-winter-olympics-indias-campaign-ends-as-sole-representative-mohammad-arif-khan-records-dnf-in-slalom-453679">Beijing Winter Olympics: India's campaign ends as Mohammad Arif Khan records DNF in slalom</a>

Australia, however, bathes in its athletes'&nbsp;dominance in a relatively weak pool of nations and fans flocked to the well-organised Gold Coast Games in 2018. 
Australia's island state of Tasmania may offer a back-up solution if Victoria's bid is unsuccessful.

Though lacking infrastructure, Australia's smallest state wrote to CGA last week asking to be considered.

The Tasmanian government expressed surprise and disappointment over news of Victoria's exclusive negotiation period.

"I was a little disappointed in the way Commonwealth Games Australia dealt with this," Tasmania Premier Peter Gutwein told media on Wednesday.

"The first I heard that they were exclusively dealing with Victoria was through the media."

Australia's Victoria state has been granted an exclusive negotiating period to secure hosting rights for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, officials said on Wednesday.

Australia's Victoria state has been granted an exclusive negotiating period to secure hosting rights for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, officials said on Wednesday. State capital Melbourne hosted the 2006 Commonwealth Games but premier Daniel Andrews said the 2026 edition would be focused on regional cities if the bid were successful. "Victoria is Australia's sporting state, and, if awarded, the 2026 Commonwealth Games would demonstrate to the world a new way to deliver the competition," he said. "We would hope to have the majority of events in our regional cities – to display the best of Victoria, create jobs and housing and infrastructure that will deliver for the long term." ALSO READ: Beijing Olympics: Russian Kamila Valieva had 3 drugs used to treat heart conditions in sample - Report Australia most recently hosted the multi-sport gathering for mostly former British colonies on the Gold Coast in 2018. The quadrennial Games have struggled to remain relevant, with four of the last five Games held in Australia or Britain. The English city of Birmingham is due to host the 2022 edition from July 28 to Aug. 8, after replacing South Africa who were stripped of them in 2017 over a lack of progress in their preparations. Birmingham was to have hosted the 2026 Games but was asked to fast-track preparations for 2022. Outside Australia, no other nations or cities expressed interest in taking the vacant 2026 slot. Australian media have speculated the 92-year-old Games may be doomed if talks between the Victorian government and Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) fail. ALSO READ: Beijing Winter Olympics: India's campaign ends as Mohammad Arif Khan records DNF in slalom Australia, however, bathes in its athletes' dominance in a relatively weak pool of nations and fans flocked to the well-organised Gold Coast Games in 2018. Australia's island state of Tasmania may offer a back-up solution if Victoria's bid is unsuccessful. Though lacking infrastructure, Australia's smallest state wrote to CGA last week asking to be considered. The Tasmanian government expressed surprise and disappointment over news of Victoria's exclusive negotiation period. "I was a little disappointed in the way Commonwealth Games Australia dealt with this," Tasmania Premier Peter Gutwein told media on Wednesday. "The first I heard that they were exclusively dealing with Victoria was through the media."

Australia's Victoria enters talks to secure hosting rights for 2026 Commonwealth Games

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