Commonwealth Games | Curtailed Games remain a platform to shine for younger athletes: Rasquinha
Former athlete Viren Rasquinha discusses the 2026 Commonwealth Games, noting that while the absence of several key sports will impact India's medal tally, the event remains a vital platform for younger athletes. He emphasizes the importance of competitive exposure for future international success.
Why it matters
It provides context on the state of Indian sports development and the strategic value of multi-sport events despite logistical challenges.
As a truncated 2026 Commonwealth Games kicks off on Thursday, most of the stakeholders admit the medal rush may not be as prolific but insist there is no lack of incentive for those participating.
“I think it’s going to be a very different Commonwealth Games because a lot of our medal-winning sports are missing. Last two CWG, we won 12 medals in wrestling, six in badminton, seven in table tennis, two each in hockey and squash — none of them is there. So it’s 100% going to affect our medal tally.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in