KARACHI: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has decided to formally write to the Commonwealth Games Federation regarding the exclusion of hockey and wrestling from the 2026 Commonwealth Games, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Informed sources claimed that the agency will send an official letter to the federation, urging the latter to reconsider its decision to exclude these sports, which are considered to be Pakistan’s medal chances in the game.
The decision to drop several sports, including hockey and wrestling, from the Glasgow Games has drawn criticism from various quarters.
The Indian Olympic Authority is also unhappy with the decision and is likely to join the POA in writing to the Commonwealth Sports Authority to press for the inclusion of hockey and wrestling, the sources added.
“We plan to write a letter this week to express our concerns about removing these sports and ask them to reconsider their decision,” the source said.
She added that in a recent regional meeting held in Male, Maldives on September 24-25, 2024, the Pakistan Commonwealth Games Association (in this case, POA) recommended to CGF officials to include hockey and wrestling in the next edition. games. They also submitted a letter calling for the inclusion of these sports.
The sources added that the agency plans to raise this issue again with the CGF.
“They were also considering dropping weightlifting from the list of sports as well. But there was strong resistance from several members, including Pakistan, against removing weightlifting from the list,” the source added.
Earlier, it was reported that the Commonwealth Games Federation had removed several major sports, including wrestling, hockey, shooting and cricket, from the event.
Other sports facing the cut include badminton, table tennis, squash, rugby sevens, beach volleyball and mountain biking.
Wrestling was one of Pakistan’s most successful sports at the Commonwealth Games, contributing 46 medals, including 21 gold.
Moreover, the Pakistani hockey team has previously won many medals in the Commonwealth Games and the removal of this badge further narrows the country’s chances of securing medals.
Cricket, which featured at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, will also be absent. Given the strength of the Pakistani cricket team, this omission further weakens its medal chances.
Shooting, a sport in which Pakistan has won three Commonwealth Games medals (one silver and two bronze), has also been dropped from the 2026 programme.
In total, Pakistan has won 27 gold, 27 silver and 28 bronze medals in all its participation in the Commonwealth Games.