India has officially submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, marking a major step in its pursuit of the 2036 Olympics. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) sent the bid to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) on March 13, 2025, as part of the country’s broader ambition to showcase its readiness for the world’s biggest sporting event.
India last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010, delivering a memorable edition in New Delhi that resulted in a record medal tally for the nation. Now, securing the 2030 CWG is viewed as a stepping stone toward the Olympics bid, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to bring the Games to India.
India Proposes Restoring Key Sports to 2030 CWG
As part of its proposal, India plans to reinstate key disciplines that were removed from the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, including hockey, shooting, badminton, and wrestling, sports in which India has historically performed well.
“We are interested, and a formal interaction has taken place with the Commonwealth Games Federation regarding this. We have also proposed the inclusion of all disciplines that were dropped from the 2026 CWG,” a source told PTI.
The exclusion of these events last year was a setback for India, given their significant contribution to the country’s medal haul across the CWG, Olympics, and Asian Games.
“This proposal aims to safeguard our medal prospects. An informal discussion has been initiated, and we will see how the host city responds,” the source added.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, marking the city’s second time hosting the event. Meanwhile, India finished fourth in the 2022 CWG in Birmingham, securing 61 medals (22 gold, 16 silver, 23 bronze), a performance it aims to build upon in future editions.
