Commonwealth Games 2026: Revisiting India's glorious Badminton legacy

For nearly six decades, badminton has been one of India's most successful sports at the Commonwealth Games. From Dinesh Khanna's first medal in 1966 to India's six-medal haul in Birmingham 2022, the sport has delivered some of the country's most memorable moments at the Games.

However, in 2026, badminton will not be part of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The decision comes after the original host, the Australian state of Victoria, withdrew from hosting the Games in 2023 due to financial concerns. Scotland later stepped in and opted for a smaller, more cost-effective edition of the Games, leading to the exclusion of several sports, including badminton.

For India, the absence of badminton is a major setback. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games alone, Indian shuttlers won six medals, including three golds. Over the years, badminton has consistently been one of India's strongest medal-producing sports at the Games.

The beginning of India's Commonwealth badminton journey

India's Commonwealth Games badminton story began in 1966 at Kingston, Jamaica. In the very first edition that India competed in, Dinesh Khanna won a bronze medal in men's singles after defeating Scotland's McCoig in the bronze medal match.

It was India's first badminton medal at the Commonwealth Games and laid the foundation for future success.

India did not add to its medal tally in 1970 and 1974, but the breakthrough came in 1978.

Prakash Padukone's historic gold

The 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada, proved to be a turning point for Indian badminton. Prakash Padukone became the first Indian badminton player to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal by claiming the men's singles title.

The same edition also saw Ami Ghia and Kanwal Thakur Singh win bronze in women's doubles, making them the first Indian women to win a Commonwealth Games badminton medal.

These achievements marked the beginning of India's rise as a badminton powerhouse at the Commonwealth Games.

India continued its success at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. With Padukone absent, Syed Modi stepped up to win the men's singles gold medal after defeating Nick Yates in the final, ensuring India remained among the leading badminton nations at the Games.

The following years were more challenging. India did not win any badminton medals in 1986 or 1990, while the Indian badminton contingent was not sent to the 1994 Commonwealth Games.

After a long gap, Indian badminton returned strongly at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Pullela Gopichand won bronze in men's singles, Aparna Popat secured silver in women's singles, while India also claimed silver in the men's team event and bronze in the women's team event. It was the country's best badminton performance at the Commonwealth Games up to that point.

Aparna Popat added another medal in 2002, winning bronze in women's singles and keeping India on the podium.

The 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne saw India win multiple medals once again. Chetan Anand claimed bronze in men's singles, while the mixed team secured another bronze medal.

But it was the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi that truly transformed Indian badminton.

Playing at home, India won four medals, including two golds. Saina Nehwal became the first Indian woman to win Commonwealth Games singles gold, while Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa added another historic gold in women's doubles.

Parupalli Kashyap won bronze in men's singles, and the mixed team secured silver. The success in Delhi helped badminton reach new heights in India.

The success continued in Glasgow in 2014. Parupalli Kashyap upgraded his bronze from Delhi to gold in men's singles. Gurusai Dutt won bronze, PV Sindhu claimed bronze in women's singles, while Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa added a silver medal in women's doubles.

Four years later at Gold Coast 2018, India produced its best-ever badminton campaign. The mixed team won a historic gold medal by defeating Malaysia. Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu contested an all-India women's singles final, with Saina winning gold and Sindhu taking silver.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty became the first Indian men's doubles pair to win a Commonwealth Games medal by taking silver, while Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy claimed bronze in women's doubles.

India's most recent Commonwealth Games badminton campaign came at Birmingham 2022.

The Indian contingent won six medals, including three golds, one silver and two bronze.

PV Sindhu won women's singles gold, Lakshya Sen claimed men's singles gold, and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured gold in men's doubles. The performance further cemented India's position as one of the leading badminton nations at the Commonwealth Games.

The players who built India's legacy

India's Commonwealth Games badminton success has been shaped by several generations of players.

Prakash Padukone opened the doors with India's first gold medal, while Ami Ghia and Kanwal Thakur Singh created history for Indian women's badminton. Syed Modi carried India's success into the 1980s, and Pullela Gopichand later helped transform the sport both as a player and coach.

Saina Nehwal became the first Indian woman to win Commonwealth Games singles gold before adding a second title in 2018.

Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa broke new ground in doubles competition, while PV Sindhu continued India's tradition of excellence. Parupalli Kashyap, Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty ensured the next generation carried the legacy forward.

What will India miss in Glasgow?

India has won 31 badminton medals in Commonwealth Games history, 10 gold, eight silver and 13 bronze. Few sports have contributed as consistently to India's success at the Games.

From Prakash Padukone's breakthrough gold in 1978 to the achievements of Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, badminton has shaped India's Commonwealth Games story for nearly six decades.

The absence of badminton at Glasgow 2026 means India will be without one of its strongest and most consistent medal prospects at the Commonwealth Games.