Commonwealth Games exclusion shatters dreams of women wrestlers in Rohtak academy

The exclusion of multiple sports, including wrestling, from the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland has dealt a severe blow to numerous aspiring wrestlers, especially women. For athletes who have spent years training with the hope of bringing home medals for their nations, this news has shattered their dreams and aspirations.

Haryana’s sports policy offers significant rewards to Commonwealth Games medalists, with gold winners receiving Rs 1.5 crore, silver medalists earning Rs 75 lakh, and bronze medalists being awarded Rs 50 lakh. This lucrative incentive has driven hundreds of wrestlers to pursue excellence, especially those training at the women’s wrestling academy at Chhotu Ram Stadium in Rohtak.

Currently, around 200 female wrestlers from Haryana and beyond are undergoing rigorous specialised training at this facility. Many of them, alongside their parents, commit long hours daily, arriving before sunrise and departing only after sundown.

Pooja Gehlot, an international wrestler who clinched a bronze medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, voiced her deep disappointment upon learning that wrestling had been excluded from the 2026 edition. "I was aiming for a gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Last time, I earned a bronze, but I had been preparing hard for the gold. It's heartbreaking to find out wrestling won’t be part of the event," Gehlot said.

She emphasized that her fellow athletes at the academy share the same frustration, as the Commonwealth Games has historically been a vital platform for wrestlers to showcase their talent.

Gehlot recalled being nervous during her Games debut in Birmingham. "Winning the bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games gave me a significant confidence boost. I started training with renewed vigour, aiming for gold the next time. But this dream-crushing news about wrestling’s exclusion has left us all devastated," she said.

Gehlot, who competes in the 50kg category, is also a Junior Wrestling World Champion and a World Championships silver medalist. She further noted that many junior wrestlers who had been training for the 2026 Games now face shattered hopes, as their opportunity to shine has been taken away.

Ritika Hooda, under-23 world champion and Paris Olympic participant in the 76kg category, echoed similar sentiments. "The Commonwealth Games is the second-biggest platform for athletes like us, after the Olympics, to display our talent and establish our names," Hooda said. She explained that while the Olympics is the ultimate dream for an athlete, events like the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Championships also play significant roles.

After missing out on a medal in the Paris Olympics, Hooda had been eagerly anticipating the next major international event, which was to be the 2026 Commonwealth Games. "It could have been the stage where I made my country proud and brought joy to my family," she said.

Manisha, a prominent wrestler in the 65kg category, is currently preparing for the World Championship in Albania. She, too, had her sights set on the Commonwealth Games. “After the World Championship, my target was the Glasgow Games. It was a dream, and now it’s been taken away. Events like the Commonwealth Games provide us with an opportunity to demonstrate the years of hard work we've put in," she shared.

Mandeep Saini, head coach at the women’s wrestling academy in Rohtak and coach of Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik, stressed the importance of events like the Commonwealth Games for wrestlers who work tirelessly on the mat. "If wrestlers win medals, they stand a chance to secure government jobs and prize money, thanks to Haryana’s sports policy, which offers substantial sums. Winning at the CWG can help them prepare for events like the Olympics," Saini said.

"The Commonwealth Games are held every four years, and many wrestlers come from humble farming and labour backgrounds with an intense drive to succeed. Missing out on the CWG takes away a life-changing opportunity from them. The government should ensure that wrestling is reinstated in the 2026 Games," he added.

Ishwar Dahiya, a retired district sports officer who has significantly contributed to promoting women’s wrestling in Rohtak, highlighted the emotional and practical difficulties these athletes now face. "Many of these wrestlers come from modest backgrounds. Their dreams of representing their country and making their families and coaches proud often depend on events like the Commonwealth Games," Dahiya explained. He stressed that for many of these wrestlers, the Commonwealth Games presents a unique opportunity to make their mark on the global stage.

He also called for government intervention to address this situation, emphasizing the vital role wrestling has played in India’s medal count at past Commonwealth Games. "In the 2022 edition, wrestling was one of the top contributors to India’s medal tally. Excluding it from the upcoming Games is a significant setback, not only for the athletes but also for the country’s overall chances," Dahiya said.

Professor Rajender Garg, director of the sports department at MDU Rohtak and an Olympic-category wrestling referee, emphasized that wrestling has always been a premier sport for India, consistently bringing glory to the nation through medals in international tournaments. "The exclusion of wrestling from the Commonwealth Games appears to be a ploy to undermine India’s medal prospects and demoralize Indian wrestlers, who are progressing toward becoming Olympic champions," he remarked. Garg pointed out that Vinesh Phogat could have clinched the gold medal at the recent Olympics had she not been disqualified before the final. He also condemned the exclusion of wrestling from the Commonwealth Games as an injustice to Indian wrestlers. Garg called for the intervention of the Prime Minister and the Indian Olympic Association.

This decision, which has caused widespread disappointment in the wrestling community, has led to calls for action from both the athletes and their coaches, who believe that the government should work to ensure wrestling’s reinstatement in the 2026 Commonwealth Games. India had won 12 medals in wrestling (six gold, one silver and five bronze) at the 2022 Games in Birmingham.