India will begin its campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 23, with Lawn Bowls opening the country's schedule before athletes compete across disciplines including athletics, weightlifting, boxing, gymnastics, swimming, para sports, judo and track cycling. With a reduced overall contingent compared to previous editions, India will look to maximise its medal tally through its traditionally strong sports, particularly athletics, weightlifting and boxing. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. IST on July 23.
Among India's leading medal contenders is Olympic and World Champion Neeraj Chopra, who will headline the men's javelin throw and is expected to face reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan in one of the most anticipated events of the Games. Other major athletics hopes include long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, triple jumper Praveen Chithravel and distance runner Gulveer Singh. In weightlifting, Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu enters the women's 48kg category as one of India's strongest gold medal prospects, while Bindyarani Devi and Gyaneshwari Yadav are also expected to challenge for podium finishes.
India's boxing squad will be led by Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain, alongside world champion Jaismine Lamboria, Sakshi Chaudhary and Preeti Pawar, all of whom are considered strong medal contenders. Outside the country's traditional strengths, India will also be represented by judoka Tulika Maan, the Lawn Bowls teams that impressed at Birmingham 2022, para-athletics medallist Soman Rana, and competitors in para powerlifting, swimming, artistic gymnastics and wheelchair basketball.
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The Games will unfold over 11 days, beginning with Lawn Bowls group-stage matches on July 23 before competition expands across multiple sports from July 24 onwards. Weightlifting medal events start on July 26, athletics begins on July 27, while Neeraj Chopra's javelin competition is scheduled with qualification on July 30 and the final on July 31. Boxing medal bouts will take place in the closing stages of the tournament, with the gold medal finals scheduled for August 1, ahead of the closing ceremony on August 2.
Several days are expected to be crucial for India's medal tally. July 26 features Mirabai Chanu's event, while July 31 could become one of India's biggest days if Neeraj Chopra competes for gold in the men's javelin final. Athletics, boxing and weightlifting are expected to contribute the majority of India's medals, with additional opportunities in Lawn Bowls, judo, para sports and track cycling. The country's performance will also depend on consistent results across team and individual events throughout the competition.
Indian viewers can watch the 2026 Commonwealth Games live on Sony Sports Network and Doordarshan Sports, with free-to-air coverage also available through DD Free Dish. Live streaming of all major events will be available on Sony LIV, allowing fans to follow India's medal contenders across every day of the Glasgow Games from the opening ceremony on July 23 until the closing ceremony on August 2.
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