India, July 20 -- In a massive blow to India's athletic ambitions, the 2026 Commonwealth Games (CWG) roster has been drastically pruned to just 10 core sports. Marquee disciplines including badminton, hockey, T20 cricket, wrestling, table tennis, and squash have been completely excluded.

The drastic decision stems from severe financial constraints. After Australia's state of Victoria withdrew as host due to skyrocketing budget estimates, Scotland's Glasgow stepped in to salvage the quadrennial event. To make the 2026 edition financially viable and reduce operational costs, organizers adopted a compressed, budget-friendly model utilizing only four existing venues within an eight-mile corridor. By dropping sports that required dedicated fa...