Why India's 39-Medal Haul At Glasgow CWG 2026, Lowest Tally In 24 Years, Is Not A Setback | Explained

India signed off from the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow with 39 medals: 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze. On paper, it was an excellent campaign by Indian athletes. The contingent finished with a solid gold tally, saw new stars and delivered memorable performances across athletics, boxing, para sports and weightlifting.

Yet, despite the impressive numbers, the campaign carried a feeling of incompleteness.

The reason was not the athletes' performances but the unique circumstances surrounding the Glasgow Games. Unlike previous editions, the 2026 Commonwealth Games were significantly scaled down, leaving India without several of its traditional medal-rich disciplines.

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A Different Commonwealth Games, A Different Challenge

Comparisons with Birmingham 2022, where India won 61 medals, are inevitable but also unfair.

Glasgow 2026 featured only 10 sports after a major restructuring of the Games. Four of India's strongest disciplines, shooting, wrestling, badminton and hockey were excluded.

These are not just regular sports for India; they have historically been the backbone of the country's Commonwealth success.

In Birmingham 2022 alone, the omitted sports contributed 30 of India's 61 medals, including 13 gold medals. That meant India entered Glasgow without more than half of its traditional medal opportunities before the Games had even begun.

Rather than dwelling on what was missing, the contingent responded with resilience. Athletes competing in the available disciplines took greater responsibility and ensured India remained among the leading nations despite the reduced medal events.

Boxing Carried India's Medal Hopes

Indian boxers delivered a historic performance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games by securing a record-breaking 10 medals, including 7 gold and 3 silver.

In the women's division, India achieved a dominant near-sweep with five gold medals won by Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), reigning world champion Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg). In contrast, Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) added to the tally with a silver medal.

The men's squad matched this elite standard as Sachin Siwach (60kg) staged a dramatic comeback to secure gold, alongside Ankush Panghal (80kg) who fought through a tough final to claim the top podium spot.

Rounding out India's unprecedented boxing campaign, Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (55kg) and Narender Berwal (+90kg) both put up valiant performances to bring home hard-fought silver medals.

Judo Added Support

While boxing exceeded expectations, judo added rays of hope for more medals. Before this edition, India had never won a single gold medal in judo at the Commonwealth Games.

In 2026, the contingent broke that barrier completely, securing 4 medals in total: 2 Gold, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze.

New Heroes Stepped Forward

If Glasgow showcased anything, it was India's growing depth beyond its traditional strengths.

Athletics delivered memorable moments, with Gulveer Singh claiming silver in the men's 10,000m, while the country's jumpers and throwers consistently reached finals. Several athletes produced personal bests, reflecting the steady improvement in India's track and field programme.

The para-athletes once again became one of India's biggest success stories. Sharmila Dhankar clinched gold in the women's F57 shot put with a season-best throw, while Shilpa Kanchugarakoppalu Shyla added bronze in the same event. High jumper Sarvesh Kushare also secured a silver medal after another impressive international performance.

Weightlifting continued its reputation as one of India's most dependable sports. India concluded a highly successful weightlifting campaign at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games by winning 8 medals in total: 1 Gold, 6 Silver, and 1 Bronze.

The standout performance belonged to Olympic silver medalist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who secured India’s lone weightlifting gold by breaking tournament records in the women's 48kg category, completing a historic Commonwealth gold hat-trick. The complete list of Indian weightlifters who won medals in Glasgow is outlined below.

These performances highlighted an important shift. India's success is no longer entirely dependent on a handful of disciplines. The country's medal base is gradually widening, an encouraging sign for future multi-sport events.

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A Campaign That Deserves Context

Judging Glasgow 2026 solely by the medal tally would overlook the extraordinary circumstances surrounding these Games.

India's athletes competed in a Commonwealth Games stripped of several sports that have historically provided the nation's success. Despite losing an entire pipeline of medal opportunities, the contingent still returned home with 39 medals, with 13 golds, showing extraordinary ability and competitive depth.

Could the tally have been higher? Certainly. Better performances in some sports and a few missed opportunities in athletics could have pushed India closer to the 45-medal mark.

But overall the picture remains positive and raises hopes for the Asian Games. The Glasgow campaign proved that Indian sport is surely developing beyond its traditional powerhouses.

While the absence of shooting, wrestling, badminton and hockey ensured this edition would always feel incomplete, the emergence of new champions in boxing, para sports, athletics and weightlifting offered a glimpse of a more balanced sporting future.