Chirag Shetty, a former world No.1 doubles shuttler, expressed his frustration regarding the challenges of securing seats for the rounds at both the Gold Coast and Birmingham editions. He believes that the struggle for seating reflects poorly on the badminton community as a whole.
Chirag Shetty, a former top-ranked doubles badminton player, criticized the removal of badminton from the lineup of sports for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, expressing disbelief at the decision to eliminate the most widely loved sport from the event.
The roster for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games was revealed on Tuesday, October 23, 2024, presenting a significantly reduced list of sports. Hockey, shooting, cricket, badminton, and wrestling have been excluded from the program, impacting India’s chances of winning medals at the prestigious event.
Chirag, the 2022 Birmingham CWG men’s doubles champion alongside Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and a mixed team gold medalist at Gold Coast in 2018, expressed his opinion, stating that in his view, it is an unwise decision. He believes that badminton is among the most popular sports, particularly within the Commonwealth Games.
The indication of badminton’s popularity in the CWG is evident in the fact that nearly all matches are held in front of a full audience, he mentioned.
Having participated in both the Gold Coast and Birmingham editions, I have experienced the challenge of securing a seat for any round. This decision is undoubtedly detrimental to the badminton community as a whole.
As members of the badminton community, we express our disappointment and hope that the CWG organizers will address this matter and consider making necessary changes. We were eagerly anticipating the opportunity to defend our title.
The bronze medallist from the World Championship suggested that both the national sports federations and the government should raise the matter with the highest authority in the Commonwealth Games.
When it comes to the decision of boycotting the event, I believe the responsibility lies with governmental entities and associations to make the call. It should be escalated to the topmost level for a resolution. Decisive actions need to be taken by higher authorities in this regard.
I believe it is crucial for us to advocate for the inclusion of sports like badminton, hockey, and wrestling, in which India excels, as they are at risk of being eliminated.
