IOA terms exclusion of shooting, wrestling from 2026 CWG as 'injustice' to India, to decide course of action after consulting ministry

Indian Olympic Association on Thursday termed the exclusion of shooting, wrestling and archery from the initial programme of 2026 Commonwealth Games as "grave injustice" to the country and said it will protest against the decision after consulting with the sports ministry. IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said the Olympic body will write a letter to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) in a day or two to protest against the decision. "It is a grave injustice to India, leaving out shooting, wrestling and archery.

Shooting and wrestling are our major sports in CWG. We protest against the decision and will write a letter to the CGF in a day or two," Mehta told PTI. "Will discuss the matter with the IOA president and then with the sports ministry regarding the future course of action." Without shooting and wrestling, India's CWG medal tally is likely to be reduced drastically.

Shooting has been India's strongest sport in the Commonwealth Games with 135 medals (63 gold, 44 silver and 28 bronze) till now. Wrestling is in third spot with 102 (43 gold, 37 silver and 22 bronze) medals. In the last CWG in Gold Coast (Australia) in 2018, shooting and wrestling together accounted for 28 medals out of the country's total tally of 66.

Shooting gave 16 medals (7 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze) while wrestling contributed 12 (5 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze). On Tuesday, Victoria was announced as host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games with the Australian state's regional centres organising the majority of events in a break from the traditional single host city model. An initial list of 16 sports, including T20 cricket, have been put forward for the Games, with further sports to be added later this year.