India to spend over Rs 53 crore on CWG 2026 preparations ahead of Glasgow Games

The sports ministry has spent more than Rs 53 crore to prepare Indian athletes for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with athletics and boxing getting the largest share of funds ahead of the multi-sport event, which begins on July 23. While the government expects better performances from the contingent, India’s medal tally is likely to take a hit due to the limited schedule of the Games.

The Glasgow edition was significantly scaled down, featuring only 10 able-bodied sports and six para-disciplines, as organizers sought to cut costs. Several of India’s traditionally strong events, including badminton, shooting, wrestling, hockey and cricket, are missing from the programme, reducing the country’s medal chances.

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Athletics received the biggest investment, with more than 20 million rupees earmarked for the preparation of the 32-member team. Led by two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra, the Indian team will participate in 21 events at the Games. The expenditure covered overseas training camps and exposure trips designed to help athletes adapt to international conditions.

The Indian athletes trained at the High Altitude Training Center in Colorado Springs, United States and also stayed in Switzerland, Turkey and South Africa as part of the preparations. The focus on overseas training reflects a wider government strategy to ensure medal contenders are acclimatised well in advance of competition.

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is expected to arrive in Glasgow later on Monday and will interact with athletes and officials during his stay. India will also formally take over as the host country for the 2030 Commonwealth Games during the closing ceremony. The Ahmedabad edition is set to return to the full format and 17 sports will be included in the programme.

BOXING EDUCATION AMONG INDIA’S STRONGEST MEDAL HOPE

Boxing, another traditional bastion of India, has received government support of more than 10 crore rupees. The 14-member squad, comprising seven men and seven women, does not lack Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain, who is expected to lead India’s medal charge.

Weightlifting also remains one of India’s key medal prospects. About 7.5 million rupees have been invested in the preparation of the 12-member team, which is headed by Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Mirabai Chanu. The weightlifters train in Birmingham in an attempt to acclimatize to European weather and time zones before the competition begins.

“We have ensured that all our medal prospects are based in Europe before the Games so that there is no problem in adapting to local conditions and time zones at the time of the Games,” Mandaviya said.

Despite the absence of several medal-rich sports, officials remain optimistic about India’s prospects in the disciplines that are part of the roster.

“In the disciplines that are on the list, we will do better than last time,” said Target Olympic Podium Scheme CEO NS Johal, who also heads the government’s Mission Olympic Cell.

India finished fourth in the medal tally at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, winning 61 medals, including 22 gold, 16 silver and 23 bronze.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

20 Jul 2026 20:36 IST