Sports including cricket, archery, and shooting are primary candidates to return to the Commonwealth Games programme when India hosts the event in 2030. The upcoming Games in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, will mark the centenary of the event and are expected to feature 17 sports, an increase from the 10 featured in the recent Glasgow Games.
The restricted programme in Glasgow was a result of a sudden transition after Victoria withdrew as hosts, which helped reduce costs from approximately £800m to £160m. However, Commonwealth Sport chief executive Katie Sadlier confirmed that the total number of sports will be capped at 17 for the Ahmedabad Games. Raghu Iyer of the India Olympic Association indicated that while official decisions are pending, there is a clear interest in including sports where India has historically excelled, such as shooting and archery. Cricket remains a strong contender, particularly as India intends to add at least two team sports to the roster.
The host city will utilize the 120,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium for key events, potentially setting the stage for India’s future interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic Games. While other sports like hockey, squash, and wrestling are also under consideration, the final sporting lineup for 2030 remains subject to ongoing negotiations between the Indian organizing committee and Commonwealth Sport.
