Source: Visual China Group/VCG
[Saba Sports News] The Commonwealth Games Federation announced yesterday that Glasgow, Scotland, will be the new host city for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, but this time only 10 sports will be held. Among them, badminton, which has been a part of the event since its first inclusion in 1966, will not be listed as a competition for the first time in 60 years. This decision has shocked badminton powerhouses Malaysia and India. Kenny Goh Chee Keong, Secretary-General of Badminton Association of Malaysia, expressed regret over badminton’s exclusion, noting that it has been included in the Commonwealth Games for many years and that there are several badminton strongholds in the Commonwealth. Looking at Malaysia’s performance in the Commonwealth Games, badminton has been the largest contributor to gold medals, having contributed 31 golds, 22 silvers, and 16 bronzes to date. In the last Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham in 2022, Malaysia won gold medals in mixed team events and women’s doubles thanks to outstanding performances from Tan Pearly and Thinaah Muralitharan, while Ng Tze Yong secured a silver medal in men’s singles, and Aaron Chia Teng Fong and Soh Wooi Yik in men’s doubles along with Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing in mixed doubles took home bronze medals.