India wins 39 medals at CWG 2026; Modi hails 'exceptional skill and dedication'
Synopsis
India closed its Glasgow 2026 campaign with 39 medals and a fourth-place finish — and before the flame went out, received the baton for the centenary Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad in 2030. With PM Modi's public praise on X and a cultural handover led by Shankar Mahadevan and Manushi Chhillar, India signalled it is not just a medal contender but the next great host of the Commonwealth movement.
Key Takeaways
India finished fourth in the CWG 2026 medal standings in Glasgow with 39 medals — 13 gold, 17 silver, and 9 bronze .
PM Narendra Modi praised the contingent on X on 3 August , calling their effort a display of ‘exceptional skill, determination and dedication.’ Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi received the Commonwealth Games flag at the closing ceremony, marking the formal handover to India .
The cultural showcase at the closing ceremony was led by singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan and former Miss World Manushi Chhillar .
Ahmedabad 2030 will be the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games; India will become only the second nation after Australia to host the event twice.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, 3 August congratulated the Indian contingent on its performance at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, praising athletes for displaying “exceptional skill, determination and dedication” across the Games. India wrapped up its campaign with 39 medals — 13 gold, 17 silver, and 9 bronze — finishing fourth in the overall medal standings.
Modi's Tribute to the Athletes
Sharing his response on X, Prime Minister Modi wrote: “Proud of our contingent’s performance at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Delighted that India has won 39 medals, including 13 golds. Congrats to the medal winners.” He added that the athletes’ “hardwork will keep inspiring our youngsters,” and extended his best wishes for their future endeavours.
Glasgow 2026: India's Campaign at a Glance
The Commonwealth Games 2026 spanned 11 days of sporting action in Glasgow, concluding on Sunday, 2 August. India's fourth-place finish in the medal tally underscores a competitive showing across disciplines, though the breakdown of sport-wise medal winners was not immediately detailed in official communications.
Baton Passes to Ahmedabad 2030
The closing ceremony marked a significant milestone as India formally took over as hosts of the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games, scheduled for Ahmedabad in 2030. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi received the Commonwealth Games flag in a symbolic handover, signalling the beginning of India’s hosting preparations.
The cultural showcase that followed was led by acclaimed singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan and former Miss World Manushi Chhillar, offering a vibrant preview of what India intends to bring to the centenary edition. An audiovisual presentation traced India’s sporting journey while offering a glimpse of the Ahmedabad 2030 Games.
Historic Significance of Ahmedabad 2030
The 2030 Commonwealth Games will mark the 100th anniversary of the Games, making it a landmark edition for the entire Commonwealth movement. With this hosting, India will become only the second nation after Australia to host the Commonwealth Games twice — a distinction that underlines the country’s growing stature in global multi-sport events.
This comes amid India’s broader push to position itself as a premier destination for international sporting events, following its co-hosting of the 2023 Cricket World Cup and its ongoing bid preparations for future Olympic cycles. The Ahmedabad handover signals that ambition is now backed by a concrete, time-bound commitment.
Point of View
But the more consequential story out of Glasgow is the Ahmedabad 2030 handover. Hosting the centenary edition is a reputational and infrastructural bet of the first order — one that will be judged not by flag ceremonies but by whether India can deliver world-class venues, athlete villages, and anti-doping infrastructure on schedule. Modi’s X post celebrated the medals; the harder work of building a host city worthy of the 100th Games now begins. India’s record as a multi-sport host — from the 2010 Commonwealth Games controversy to the smoother 2023 Cricket World Cup — suggests the capacity exists, but so does the risk of underestimating the complexity of a 17-sport, multi-nation Games.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many medals did India win at the Commonwealth Games 2026?
India won 39 medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow — comprising 13 gold, 17 silver, and 9 bronze — and finished fourth in the overall medal standings.
What did PM Modi say about India's CWG 2026 performance?
PM Modi shared his congratulations on X, saying he was ‘proud’ of the contingent and ‘delighted’ that India had won 39 medals including 13 golds. He also noted that the athletes’ ‘hardwork will keep inspiring our youngsters.’
Where will the next Commonwealth Games be held?
The next Commonwealth Games will be held in Ahmedabad, India in 2030 . It will be the centenary — or 100th anniversary — edition of the Games, and India will become only the second nation after Australia to host the event twice.
Who represented India at the CWG 2026 closing ceremony handover?
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi received the Commonwealth Games flag on India’s behalf at the Glasgow closing ceremony. The cultural showcase that followed was led by singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan and former Miss World Manushi Chhillar .
What is the significance of the Ahmedabad 2030 Commonwealth Games?
The Ahmedabad 2030 edition marks the 100th anniversary of the Commonwealth Games, making it historically significant for the entire Commonwealth movement. India will also become only the second country after Australia to have hosted the Games on two separate occasions.
