Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Hails India's Historic Commonwealth Games Success

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla hails India's Commonwealth Games success, applauds athletes' dedication

New Delhi, August 3

Addressing the Lok Sabha, Birla congratulated the Indian contingent for its successful campaign at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games and lauded the athletes for their contribution to Indian sport.

Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan also congratulated the Indian contingent in the Upper House, with members joining him in applauding the athletes for their performance at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Para Games held in Glasgow.

"Hon'ble Members, the House joins me in congratulating the Indian contingent on its outstanding performance at the just concluded Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Para Games held at Glasgow," Radhakrishnan said.

He noted that India finished fourth in the Commonwealth Games medal tally with 39 medals, including 13 gold, 17 silver and 9 bronze medals.

Highlighting the achievements of the para contingent, the Chairman said Indian para athletes scripted history by registering their best-ever performance at the Commonwealth Games, winning seven medals.

"Their remarkable performances, dedication and hard work have made every Indian proud. I wish all our athletes continued success in their future sporting endeavours," Radhakrishnan said.

The curtains came down on the 2026 Commonwealth Games after 11 days of competition, with Scotland formally handing over the Commonwealth Games flag and ceremonial baton to India, hosts of the landmark centenary edition in 2030, during a glittering closing ceremony.

The 2030 Commonwealth Games will be held in Ahmedabad, making India only the second nation after Australia to host the multi-sport event on more than one occasion. India had previously staged the Games in New Delhi in 2010.

The Commonwealth Games flag and baton were presented to India's representatives, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha, and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi as part of the official handover ceremony.

India also had plenty to celebrate on the sporting front, finishing fourth in the medals table with a haul of 39 medals, 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze, to cap off a successful campaign. Although India's tally was lower than the 61 medals won in Birmingham in 2022, the context tells a different story.

Thirty of those medals had come in sports that were dropped from the Glasgow programme. With only 122 athletes compared to 210 four years ago, India still managed to maintain its fourth-place finish while producing an even better medal conversion rate, with 38 athletes returning home with medals.

Long-distance runner Gulveer Singh was the only Indian to win two medals. With the ceremonial handover complete, the focus now shifts to Ahmedabad, which will host the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030.

— ANI