Athletics Federation of India Sets Tougher Qualification Standards for 2026 Commonwealth Games

**Score:** N/A — non-match qualification policy item.

NEW DELHI — The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has set stricter qualification standards for Indian track and field athletes targeting the 2026 Commonwealth Games, according to a report by The News Mill published on 18 July 2026.

The federation has raised the entry marks athletes must achieve to earn selection for the Glasgow 2026 Games, the report said. The News Mill did not immediately detail every event-by-event threshold, and Source Reporters has not independently verified the exact qualifying times and distances.

The move follows a wider push by national federations to lift performance bars ahead of the Commonwealth Games, which are due to be staged in Glasgow, Scotland. Indian athletics has expanded its medal ambitions in recent cycles, and tighter standards are likely to sharpen squad selection.

The AFI did not respond to a request for further comment at the time of publication. Athletes must now hit the revised marks during designated qualification windows to secure berths.

**Global angle:** Commonwealth nations are finalising squads for Glasgow 2026; India's tougher criteria mirror a broader trend among larger delegations of raising the selection bar to improve medal returns.

**Sources** - https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwwFBVV95cUxOczkwMUw1aDRhb0FDaFYxUzAwMGgyLXp3QURndGVKN2NfellJZ3JXYjhPWFJXOXJ4S2RwQ0gtaHdkMjJpbG5pa1NhTVEyMTlCODdITUEtdVprcmZORVo5a0dJbm9ici1pSy1nV1hNb040a2lwU0IxTUh2SFB0YmxsN2xSckFDeERJSW5ac0I1SGpXMF9ZOUhpQkh0b09laFhxRkRNWGFqV3pYZVlKY0w5dkVmU3Y1MXJycXJLUlVWaElVeFk - https://www.olympics.com

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