India will measure its success at the 2026 Commonwealth Games not only by the number of medals won but also by the knowledge gained ahead of hosting the centenary edition of the Games in Ahmedabad in 2030, India's Chef de Mission Rohit Rajpal has said. The 23rd Commonwealth Games will begin on July 23 in Glasgow and feature a reduced programme of 10 sports, significantly fewer than the 19 disciplines contested at the Birmingham 2022 Games.

Speaking ahead of the opening ceremony, Rajpal said preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games are a major priority alongside India's sporting performance. He noted that knowledge-transfer programmes running during the Glasgow Games would help Indian officials understand the latest developments in Games management, technology and event operations before India takes over as the next host nation.

Rajpal said senior representatives, including Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, sports administrators and officials from the Gujarat government, are expected to visit Glasgow to study the organisation of the event. The delegation will observe operational aspects such as venue management, integrated control systems, athlete services and logistics to help strengthen preparations for Ahmedabad 2030.

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India hosted the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010, where the country achieved its best-ever performance by finishing second in the medals table with 101 medals. Rajpal said the management of major sporting events has evolved considerably since then, with greater use of technology, integrated control rooms and real-time coordination systems that India hopes to adopt while planning the 2030 edition.

The Indian contingent will compete in eight sports at this year's Games, with disciplines such as shooting, wrestling, hockey, badminton, 3x3 basketball and netball absent from the programme. Rajpal said the reduced number of events means direct comparisons with previous editions based on medal tally alone would not provide an accurate measure of India's overall performance.

Organisers have also adopted a different accommodation model for Glasgow 2026, replacing the traditional Commonwealth Games Village with hotel clusters connected by dedicated shuttle services. Rajpal said Indian officials have focused on ensuring athletes receive suitable accommodation, medical support and nutritious meals throughout the competition, adding that arrangements have also been made to address the needs of a young para-cyclist who required additional support during the Games.

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