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.

“(But) in terms of position on the table, I think it’ll still be Australia and England at the top, by far the strongest at this level. For the third place, which India ideally should be aiming for, it’s always a battle with New Zealand and Canada. What’s going to be really important is, can we win those gold medals?” former India captain and CEO of Olympic Gold Quest Viren Rasquinha said in an interaction on Wednesday.

He admitted it was disappointing but added that most sports have other important events ongoing, ensuring there was no drop in terms of competitive exposure ahead of the Asian Games.

“Currently, all our top shooters are at the Rifle & Pistol World Cup in Hangzhou. In table tennis the UTT is on, there will be the hockey World Cup and the badminton World Championships.

“For those participating, I totally disagree with the notion that the Commonwealth Games is not of value. As athletes and coaches, you always respect every competition and as an opportunity to participate and do well for younger players, the Commonwealth Games is a great platform to make a name for yourself.”

Asked about his medal expectations, Rasquinha refused to put a number. “I’m never one for making predictions. If you look at what’s happened in Indian athletics recently, there have been about 26 National records in the last 6-12 months. So, I think athletics is one sport where we can look at 8-10 medals. The women’s boxing squad is so strong this time, all seven participants are capable of winning medals. Weightlifting, again, we can expect 8-10.”

(The interaction was facilitated by Sony Sports Network, the official broadcasters of the Commonwealth Games 2026. Tune-In: Day 1, July 24 from 1 PM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD)

The Commonwealth Games (CWG) have traditionally been one of India’s most productive multi-sport events, with the country consistently returning with a healthy medal haul. But at Glasgow 2026, India’s prospects have taken a hit after several sports, including badminton, were dropped from the programme, with organisers holding cost management responsible for the trim.

The decision, understandably, has not gone down well within India’s badminton community, with chief national coach P. Gopi Chand among those disappointed.

“Commonwealth was an important event and badminton not being there in Glasgow was quite shocking. It’s done and dusted for this edition, but we are hoping that in our edition in Ahmedabad (2030), we would have badminton featuring back again. Indian players are stronger than ever, so we do expect some medals from the event as well,” he said in an interaction organised by the Sports Authority of India.

“From an athlete’s perspective, Asian Games are tough for some events, but also there are some events where the participation of countries like Australia, England and Jamaica makes the standard of the Commonwealth Games higher than the Asian Games.”

The CWG is not the only area where badminton has seen change. The sport has also introduced proposals that have split opinion, including a new scoring system and trials involving synthetic shuttlecocks.

“What’s the point of complaining when it’s done? That’s one of the reasons why I haven’t spoken against it,” he quipped.

“For me, the sport has been very, very exciting in the last few years. We have tournaments filled with crowds. The calendar is packed with tournaments, and there was no need for us to mess with the system,” Gopi Chand said, talking about the new 3×15 scoring system replacing the traditional 21-point format.

The 52-year-old was, however, more receptive to the prospect of synthetic shuttlecocks, citing the need to make the sport more sustainable.

Gopi Chand also weighed in on Satwiksairaj Rankireddy’s remarks about the lack of recognition for badminton players after India’s Thomas Cup bronze medal-winning team returned home to a subdued reception.

Satwik’s comments sparked debate, prompting him to later clarify that he was not asking for “money or grand parades” but simply urging people “to celebrate every win, big or small” across all sports.

“In a lot of ways, I endorse what Satwik said. It’s unfortunate that one of the best players the country has ever produced, especially in doubles, feels that way. We’ve never had anybody reach anywhere close to where they have reached. What he said is genuine. To have them win something big and then not get the recognition which they feel they should is unfortunate,” he explained.

“That said, I genuinely would love to see badminton and other sports being recognised more. But unfortunately, ground reality is that it doesn’t happen. Everybody should lend a hand to ensure that these players’ performances are portrayed better and the visibility is more, so that it is not just fans watching them but also the younger kids taking them as role models and we produce better players for the future.”

(Watch the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games live and exclusive on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV).