Commonwealth Games 2018: India to send 225 athletes for Gold Coast event after quota places go up in boxing

India will send 225 athletes to the upcoming Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Gold Coast, Australia after Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)  increased the number of quota places for Indian sportspersons in boxing and athletics for the 4- 15 April event. The increase in quota places has come at the expense of reduction in gymnastics, shooting and cycling, according to a report in the Times of India. India will participate in 15 disciplines, and the number of athletes has gone up from 215 participants at the Glasgow CWG in 2014. [caption id=“attachment_4355725” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Retired cysclist Anna Meares (R) from Australia carries the baton after receiving it from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth during the launch of the Queen’s baton Relay for the XX1 Commonwealth Games to be held on Australia’s Gold Coast. AFP[/caption] The CGF accepted the request of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) to increase the number of quota places for the Indian pugilists to 12 (increase of one quota place in women’s category). The CGF had reduced the entries to 10 from the originally allocated 13, denting India’s medal prospects as boxing has been a major medal event in the past. While the increase is still one less than what India had demanded, it’s still more than 11 boxers that represented the country in Glasgow. In athletics, the CGF has offered seven more quota places to take the sport’s contingent size to 37, as compared to Glasgow’s 32. The CGF had originally allocated 30 quota places to India in the athletics for the Gold Coast Games. In basketball, Indian men’s and women’s team participation has straightaway added 24 quota places (12 men and 12 women). Basketball last featured as a discipline in CWG in 2010 Delhi Games. However, gymnastics saw its share being reduced from 10 at Glasgow to seven (2 men and 5 women) this time. This could further go down to six with one of  as India’s biggest medal hope, Dipa Karmakar, pulling out due to injury.   Here’s the complete break-up of the contingent: • Aquatics: Men 3, Total: 3. Athletics: Men 23, Women 14 (Total 37) • Badminton: Men 4, Women 5, Total 9 • Basketball (qualification): Men 12, Women 12, Total 24. Boxing: Men 8, Women 4 (Total 12) • Cycling: Men 6, Women 3 (Total 9) • Gymnastics: Men 2, Women 5 (Total 7) • Hockey (qualification): Men 18, Women 18 (Total 36) • Lawn Bowls: Men 5, Women 5 (Total 10) • Shooting: Men 15, Women 12 (Total 27) • Squash: Men 5, Women 2 (Total 7) • Table Tennis: Men 5 Women 5 (Total 10) • Weightlifting (qualification): Men 8, Women 8 (Total 16) • Wrestling: Men 6, Women 6 (Total 12) • Para sport: Men 3, Women 3 (Total 6)