Former Indian women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal expressed her disappointment and sadness over the exclusion of hockey from the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Rani, who announced her retirement from hockey on Thursday, described the decision as a “big setback” for India, which has a strong record in the sport.

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Rani Rampal slams decision to exclude hockey from CWG

Rani Rampal recalled the inspiration she drew from India’s gold medal win at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, which motivated her to pursue a career in hockey. She emphasized the significance of the Commonwealth Games for Indian athletes, saying it has always been a favorite event for the country.

“The exclusion of hockey from Commonwealth Games is a big setback. It’s a very sad news. CWG has always been India’s favourite event,” Rani Rampal told PTI.

“I was very inspired by the gold medal won in the Manchester Commonwealth Games. Even today, it could be a source of inspiration for many emerging players. We never thought that hockey would ever be excluded from it (CWG). This is bad news not just for hockey but also for all the other sports that have been excluded,” she said.

“India’s performance in the Commonwealth Games is good. When I (can) get inspired by this, many players in the future will also be inspired to play after seeing India win medals.

Rani Rampal urged Hockey India and other sports federations to oppose the decision, highlighting the hard work of athletes who have been preparing for the Games. She expressed concern that the exclusion of hockey and other sports would hurt India’s medal prospects and deprive emerging players of opportunities.

“Hockey India and all the sports federations should oppose this exclusion. There is no fault of the players who were working hard for so many years,” she added. 

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The exclusion of hockey, shooting, cricket, badminton, and wrestling from the 2026 Commonwealth Games has sparked widespread disappointment and criticism, with many arguing that it would unfairly impact India’s chances of winning medals. 

The decision to exclude these games came after the Commonwealth Games were moved to Glasgow, Scotland from Australia’s Victoria state, where it was originally scheduled to be held.