The 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow has officially come to an end on August 2, marking a significant chapter in India's sporting history. The event, which commenced on July 23, saw participation from athletes representing 74 nations across 13 different sporting disciplines. India finished its campaign on a high note, securing the fourth position in the overall medal tally. The Indian contingent bagged a total of 39 medals, which includes 13 gold, 17 silver, and 9 bronze medals. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the challenging circumstances under which the Indian athletes competed this year.
The Magic Behind the Medal Tally
The success of the Indian team in Glasgow 2026 is being hailed as a magical performance because it came in the absence of six major sports that have traditionally been a gold mine for India. In the previous edition held in Birmingham in 2022, India had won 30 medals from cricket, table tennis, wrestling, hockey, badminton, and squash alone. However, none of these six sports were included in the Glasgow 2026 schedule. Despite losing out on these high-probability medal events, India managed to secure 39 medals, proving the growing depth and versatility of Indian sports across other disciplines.
Boxing and Athletics Lead the Way
The primary drivers of India's success this time were boxing and athletics. Indian boxers delivered an extraordinary performance, winning a total of 10 medals, including 7 gold medals. When compared to the Birmingham 2022 games, the boxers have shown significant improvement, winning 3 more medals this time. In the previous edition, the boxing contingent had secured 7 medals, consisting of 3 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze. This surge in gold medals in boxing played a crucial role in keeping India in the top five of the medal table.
Athletics also saw a massive jump in performance, with the medal count doubling compared to the last games. In Glasgow 2026, Indian track and field athletes won 16 medals, including 3 gold, 7 silver, and 6 bronze. This is a stark contrast to the Birmingham games where the athletics team could only manage 8 medals, including 1 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze. The consistent performance in various track and field events ensured that India remained a dominant force throughout the competition.
Judo and Other Disciplines
Judo was another sport where Indian athletes showed remarkable progress. India won 4 medals in judo at the 23rd Commonwealth Games, which included 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal. In the 22nd edition held in Birmingham, the judo team had won 3 medals, consisting of 2 silver and 1 bronze. While weightlifting and para powerlifting saw a slight dip in the number of medals compared to the previous games, the exceptional performances in boxing, athletics, and judo more than compensated for the shortfall, allowing India to reach the 39 medal mark.
Investment in Excellence
The success of the athletes is backed by significant financial investment and strategic planning. 09 crore rupees was spent on the preparation of the athletes through the Annual Calendar for Training and Competitions (ACTC) and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). The distribution of these funds was strategically aligned with the potential for medals. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) received the largest share, with more than 20 crore rupees allocated for training and preparation. The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) was provided with over 10 crore rupees to ensure their athletes had access to world-class facilities and training.
5 crore rupees. 09 crore rupees. These funds were utilized to send athletes for international training stints and to provide them with the necessary infrastructure to compete at the highest level. 09 crore rupees.
From Glasgow to Ahmedabad
As the Glasgow games concluded, the focus has now shifted to the next edition of the Commonwealth Games, which is set to be held in Ahmedabad. During the closing ceremony, the Commonwealth Sports flag was handed over to India's legendary athlete Neeraj Chopra. He then passed the flag to PT Usha, the President of the Indian Olympic Association, and Harsh Sanghavi, the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat. This symbolic gesture marks the beginning of the four-year countdown to the 24th Commonwealth Games, where India will look to build on its success and host a world-class event on home soil.