India, July 23 -- Eight years after last hosting the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow is ready to welcome the multi-sport spectacle once again from July 23 to August 2.

For India, the Commonwealth Games have traditionally been a happy hunting ground. Since the turn of the century, the country has consistently finished inside the top five of the medal table, winning at least 50 medals at every edition since 2002. This year, however, India heads to Scotland with a leaner 125-member contingent, chasing glory across a significantly reduced programme featuring 215 medal events.

While familiar names such as PV Sindhu and the Indian hockey, table tennis and wrestling teams are absent because of changes to the programme, India's campaign will still ...