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 …