Commonwealth Games: Indian Olympic Association bats for inclusion of shooting and wrestling at Victoria 2026 Games

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Acting President, Mr Anil Khanna, and the IOA treasurer, Mr Anandeshwar Panday, met with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President, Dame Louise Martin, during the CGF Annual General Meeting, which was held at the Grand Hotel Birmingham, in the United Kingdom, on July 26.

On behalf of the IOA, Mr Khanna and Mr Panday requested the CGF President that wrestling and shooting be included in the final sports programme of the next edition of the Commonwealth Games, which will be held in the Australian state of Victoria in 2026.

Mr Khanna and Mr Panday also conveyed to the CGF President that the IOA is willing to make a presentation to the Organising Committee of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games to underline how the inclusion of wrestling and shooting will increase the stature of the event as well as reinforce the ideals embodied by the two sports.

In addition, the IOA is working with the National Rifles Association of India (NRAI) and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to ensure they engage in active discussions with the international federations of the two sports in question in order to chart out a roadmap for the inclusion of shooting and wrestling in the final programme of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Mr Khanna and Mr Panday also requested that the IOA members be allowed to participate in greater numbers in the CGF Committees.