Double Loss To Indian Wrestler In CWG 2026: Opportunity To Show Talent, And Get Rewards Will Be Lost
India won a total of 22 gold medals in the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Of these, 6, that is, every fourth gold medal was found in wrestling. One of our strongest sports is out in the next Commonwealth Games. These games are to be held in Victoria, Australia in 2026.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CWF) and Commonwealth Games Australia 5 October announced the games to be included in the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The Games will comprise 26 events spanning a total of 20 sports, including 9 para-sports. Wrestling has not found a place in these games.
Double loss to Indian wrestlers In CWG 2022: Opportunity to show talent, and get rewards will be lost
Also Read
Veteran wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who hails from Haryana, which is considered the hub of Indian wrestling, has called it a disappointment for Indian wrestlers. Vinesh Phogat, the second Indian wrestler after Sushil Kumar to win gold in three consecutive Commonwealth Games, said in an interview that wrestling is one of the few sports in which India makes its mark in the world. Also, platforms like CWG and Asian Games give young wrestlers a chance to prove themselves.
The success of CWG also helps the wrestlers financially. This year, the Central Government rewarded CWG’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze medalists with a reward of Rs 20 lakh, 10 lakh, and Rs 7.5 lakh, respectively. At the same time, the Haryana government announced a grant of Rs 1.5 crore to each gold medalist. Now, this opportunity has been snatched away from the wrestlers due to the exclusion of wrestling from the CWG.
Vinesh Phogat says that most of the wrestlers come from poor families. In Haryana, people sell their lands to fulfill their children’s dream of wrestling. In such a situation, the awards from the government help the wrestlers to build their careers and bear the family expenses.
