India eyes strong showing as Commonwealth Games get underway in Glasgow

New Delhi: A 126-member Indian contingent will begin its campaign at the XXIII Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Thursday, hoping to overcome the absence of several traditional medal-winning sports and deliver another strong performance on the biggest stage of the Commonwealth.

The Games, to be held from July 23 to August 2, will feature competition in 13 disciplines and 113 medal events, bringing together athletes from across the Commonwealth.

India heads into the Games after an impressive showing at the 2022 Birmingham edition, where the contingent finished with 61 medals, including 22 golds. However, replicating that tally could prove challenging this time as sports such as shooting, badminton, table tennis and squash — disciplines that have traditionally contributed significantly to India's medal haul — are not part of the Glasgow programme.

Despite the reduced medal opportunities, India will bank on a strong athletics team led by Olympic and World champion Neeraj Chopra, who will spearhead the country's javelin challenge. The 32-member athletics squad, comprising 22 men and 10 women, is the largest among all Indian teams at the Games.

Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain will lead India's challenge in boxing, where the country has fielded a full-strength 14-member squad with representation in all 14 weight categories — seven men and seven women. Boxing is expected to be one of India's strongest medal prospects.

Weightlifting, another discipline that has consistently delivered medals for India at the Commonwealth Games, will feature a 12-member contingent led by Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu, who will once again be among the favourites in her category.

Apart from athletics, boxing and weightlifting, India will also be represented across 10 other disciplines as the contingent seeks to build on its rich Commonwealth Games legacy.

Athletics will have the largest Indian representation with 32 athletes, followed by judo and boxing with 14 competitors each, while weightlifting will feature 12 lifters.

With several established stars and emerging talents in the squad, India will look to make a strong start when competition begins on Thursday, even as the absence of some of its most successful sports is expected to impact the overall medal tally.

Tags : Commonwealth Games, CWG, Glasgow, Neeraj Chopra, Lovlina Borgohain, Mirabai Chanu