With Neeraj Chopra spearheading the athletics challenge, India sends a strong 124-member contingent to Glasgow in search of another successful Commonwealth Games campaign….reports Asian Lite News Desk
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will officially unveil the ceremonial kit and host a grand send-off for India’s 124-member contingent on Tuesday ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Games, scheduled from July 23 to August 2, will see India compete in 10 sporting disciplines. The contingent features both able-bodied and para athletes, underlining the inclusive format adopted for this edition of the Commonwealth Games.
Leading India’s medal charge will be two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra, Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu, decathlete Tejaswin Shankar and Olympic boxing medallist Lovlina Borgohain, all of whom are expected to play key roles in the country’s campaign.
According to the IOA, Indian athletes have undergone intensive preparations despite the condensed competition schedule for the Glasgow Games and are confident of producing another strong performance on the international stage.
Neeraj Chopra returns to the Commonwealth Games after missing the Birmingham 2022 edition because of injury. The reigning world-class javelin thrower had clinched gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and will once again spearhead India’s athletics campaign.
Tejaswin Shankar also heads into the Games in excellent form. The decathlete recently crossed the coveted 8,000-point mark at the Federation Cup in Ranchi, reaffirming his credentials as one of India’s brightest medal hopes in athletics.
Weightlifting is expected to remain one of India’s strongest events, with Mirabai Chanu returning to international competition after recovering from injury. The Tokyo Olympic silver medallist has been training in Birmingham ahead of the Games and will be looking to add another major medal to her illustrious career.
India enjoyed a memorable outing in weightlifting at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, winning 10 medals, and the team will be aiming to replicate or better that success in Glasgow.
The boxing squad also enters the Games with high expectations. Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain will lead the challenge alongside Sakshi, Preeti and Ankush, all of whom are regarded as strong medal contenders based on their recent performances.
The ceremonial send-off will be attended by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Textiles Giriraj Singh, IOA President P.T. Usha, Secretary of the Department of Sports Hari Ranjan Rao and several other senior officials and distinguished guests.
The Indian contingent will be led by Davis Cup captain and coach Rohit Rajpal, who has been appointed Chef de Mission for the Games. Ravi Bengani, Vandana Rao and Rahul Swami will serve as General Team Managers, while renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala has been named Chief Medical Advisor and will be supported by a team of physiotherapists throughout the Games.
Srinivasan Kannan and Sarvesh Kedia will accompany the contingent as Press Attaches.
A major attraction of Tuesday’s ceremony will be the unveiling of the Indian contingent’s official ceremonial attire, designed by noted designer Aaquib Wani. The launch will include a special ramp walk featuring Indian athletes showcasing the new kit before their departure for Scotland.
Beyond the competition, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games will also provide valuable operational experience for India as it prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad. Members of the Ahmedabad 2030 Commonwealth Games Observer Programme delegation will attend the event to study various aspects of Games management, including venue operations, competition delivery, logistics and event administration.
Speaking ahead of the team’s departure, IOA President P.T. Usha congratulated every athlete selected to represent the country and expressed confidence in their ability to perform on one of the biggest sporting stages.
She said the athletes represented the very best of Indian sport and carried the aspirations of more than 1.4 billion people. Usha urged the contingent to compete with courage, determination and the true spirit of sportsmanship, while assuring them of the IOA’s full support throughout the Games.
With a blend of experienced champions, emerging stars and para athletes, India will head to Glasgow aiming to add another successful chapter to its Commonwealth Games history and strengthen its reputation as one of the leading sporting nations in the competition.
