Wrestling has been dropped out of the list of sports for the next edition of CWG Games 2026 which will be held in Victoria in Australia.
The move has not gone down well with the wrestlers, coaches and the associations but also amongst the fans in India.
Wrestling has always been a stronghold for India and their recent success at the Birmingham CWG is a testimony to the fact.
However, wrestling’s loss became shooting’s gain as the sport has made it back to the mega event after being omitted from the 2022 CWG. Shooting had been a part of the CWG programme since 1966 but was excluded from the 2022 edition in Birmingham.
Experts, ex-players and pundits have spoken exclusively to The Daily Guardian on the new development.
Here are the excerpts.
Rajeev Mehta, Hon’ Secretary General Indian Olympic Association: “I welcome the federation’s decision of including shooting in the CWG 2026 going to be held in Victoria, Australia. But at the same time we are unhappy on the exclusion of Wrestling from the event as wrestling now is one our major sports which can bring us a decent medal tally as was visible in CWG 2022 also. But we have not lost hopes and we definitely will put our requests towards federation and we are sure that something will work out.”
Deepali Deshpande, Arjun awardee, an olympian and former National Coach for entire Rifle session: “Dropping out any sport is not good for that sport, these are the games which every athlete looks forward to, it’s one of bench marks in their career. It’s one of the stepping stones, be it Asian Games, Olympics or CWG. I am happy that this time shooting is included but at the same time unhappy for my Indian Wrestlers just like I was unhappy when shooting didn’t get the fair chance in CWG 2022. Although, last time shooting brought 16 medals for the country alone.”
Samaresh Jung, Arjun awardee, the ace Indian shooter and national coach for air pistol: “I am very happy for the Indian shooters as shooting is included, but I would have been happier, if all the events of shooting were included. As for CWG 2026 in shooting there are only three events included air rifle, air pistol and trap.”
On exclusion of wrestling from the next edition he exclaimed “It’s the same case which happened with the shooting event in CWG 2022, according to me it has a simple logic which is visible and is actually very unfair, the host nation gets the advantage of picking and dropping a sport based on their own strengths in respective sports. When they see that particular sport event will not get them any chance of winning medals, they drop it. Basically, it’s a debatable topic”.
Deepak Punia, the Indian Wrestler who clinched Gold Medal at CWG 2022 said, “I am happy for the Indian shooters but at the same time I am very sad for Indian wrestlers as wrestling is not included in CWG 2026. All top Indian wrestlers have reached this level after putting in lots of sweat and blood. And CWG is an event which one always look forward to attend and perform as it is one of its kind of International competition. It’s a kind of reality and quality check for everyone. It’s very disheartening.”