The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is preparing to send a compact yet competitive contingent of 125 to 130 athletes to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with the country’s selection process set to remain entirely in the hands of the respective National Sports Federations (NSFs).
IOA Chief Executive Officer Raghuram Iyer made it clear that the association will not interfere in athlete selection, reaffirming that each federation will independently choose its representatives based on its own qualification norms and performance criteria. The move is aimed at ensuring a transparent and merit-driven selection process ahead of one of the biggest multi-sport events on the calendar.
Selection to Be Based Purely on Performance
Speaking about India’s preparations, Iyer emphasised that the IOA’s responsibility is to coordinate logistics and facilitate the country’s participation rather than influence sporting decisions.
Every National Sports Federation will finalise its squad after evaluating athletes through qualification standards, national trials and recent performances. The IOA will only oversee administrative arrangements, including travel, accreditation and Games-related operations.
Smaller Contingent, Bigger Medal Ambitions
India’s expected squad of around 125–130 athletes is considerably smaller than previous Commonwealth Games contingents, largely because the Glasgow edition features a reduced sports programme.
Despite the lower athlete count, officials remain optimistic that India can produce another strong medal-winning campaign by focusing on sports where Indian competitors have consistently performed well. The emphasis will be on sending athletes with genuine podium potential rather than fielding a large contingent.
Clear Message to Athletes
Iyer’s remarks also provide clarity to athletes preparing for the Games. By ruling out any IOA intervention in team selection, the message is straightforward—perform on the field, meet the qualification criteria, and earn your place through merit.
The approach is expected to reduce uncertainty surrounding selections while allowing federations to make sport-specific decisions without external influence.
Preparations Gather Pace
With the Commonwealth Games drawing closer, several Indian federations have already begun finalising their squads. The athletics contingent, among others, has started taking shape, while teams in other disciplines are expected to be announced over the coming weeks based on qualification events and selection trials.
India will now shift its focus to ensuring that the selected athletes receive the best possible support before travelling to Glasgow, where another successful Commonwealth Games campaign will be the target.
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