India's medal tally at Glasgow is impressive. But it could have been much bigger
Only Australia, England and Canada finished above India in the medal standings, while hosts Scotland ended with the same overall tally of 39 medals but were ranked lower because they won fewer silver medals. Yet, as impressive as India's performance was, the final medal count…
Only Australia, England and Canada finished above India in the medal standings, while hosts Scotland ended with the same overall tally of 39 medals but were ranked lower because they won fewer silver medals. Yet, as impressive as India's performance was, the final medal.
The Glasgow Games featured a heavily reduced programme of just 10 sports, leaving out several disciplines that have traditionally been India's biggest medal factories. Shooting, wrestling, badminton and table tennis were all absent, significantly reducing India's medal opportunities.
What Happened
Those four sports have consistently delivered some of India's biggest returns at the Commonwealth Games. Table tennis was another major contributor, with India winning seven medals in Birmingham.
Shooting fetched an incredible 27 medals the last time it featured in Gold Coast in 2018.
Wrestling added 12 medals at Birmingham 2022, while badminton contributed six.
That opportunity may now come at the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, where India is expected to compete in a far more familiar sporting programme.
Key Details
Together, those four disciplines accounted for 52 medals the last time they featured in the Games. It would, of course, be unrealistic to simply add those medals to India's Glasgow tally.
India's fourth-place finish at the 2026 Commonwealth Games was, on paper, another successful campaign.
Shooting fetched an incredible 27 medals the last time it featured in Gold Coast in 2018.
Wrestling added 12 medals at Birmingham 2022, while badminton contributed six.
Why It Matters
Different editions bring different levels of competition, athlete form and qualification standards. Even so, the numbers offer a glimpse of the medal potential India was unable to tap into because of the reduced programme.
Instead, India leaves Glasgow with 39 medals, an impressive return in the circumstances, but also a reminder that the country's full Commonwealth Games strength was never truly on display.
Had India's traditional medal-winning sports been part of the Glasgow schedule and produced results comparable to previous editions, the contingent could realistically have finished with well over 70-75 medals, giving it a genuine chance.
What Reports Say
Coverage of the story so far points to:
Continued reporting by India Today as more details emerge
