Australia Dominate Medal Table as Scotland Hands Over Games to India for 2030
Shakeel ur Rehman
The 23rd Commonwealth Games came to a spectacular conclusion in Glasgow on Sunday, August 2, bringing 11 days of intense sporting competition to an end with Australia emerging as the undisputed medal powerhouse and India officially taking the baton for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Amdavad, Gujarat.
The closing ceremony at The Hydro provided a colourful and emotional finale to an event that successfully brought together athletes from across the Commonwealth in a streamlined edition featuring 10 sports and 215 medal events. More than 434,000 spectators attended the Games over the 11 days.
The ceremony blended Scottish culture with Indian traditions as Glasgow formally handed over hosting responsibilities to Amdavad, India, which will stage the Commonwealth Games in 2030. The programme featured performances from Scottish and international artists, including legendary Scottish rock band Simple Minds, Australian singer Delta Goodrem, Diversity and other performers. Traditional Scottish elements were combined with Indian music, dance and cultural presentations, followed by spectacular fireworks that brought the Games to a memorable close.
The ceremony also celebrated the athletes, volunteers and officials who contributed to the success of Glasgow 2026. Commonwealth Sport President Dr Donald Rukare praised the Games, while the David Dixon Award was presented to Mel Woods for outstanding performance and contribution.
Australia Rule Glasgow
Australia finished at the top of the medal table in commanding fashion, collecting 70 gold, 45 silver and 56 bronze medals for a remarkable total of 171 medals. Their dominance was particularly evident in swimming, athletics, cycling, gymnastics and para-sport events.
England secured second position with 29 gold, 45 silver and 36 bronze medals, finishing with 110 medals. Canada took third with 19 gold, 20 silver and 23 bronze medals, while India finished fourth with 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze medals, giving the Indian contingent a total of 39 medals.
India’s campaign included several historic achievements. Weightlifting star Mirabai Chanu completed a memorable hat-trick of Commonwealth Games gold medals, while Indian athletes also produced strong performances in boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting and para-sports. India finished fourth despite competing in a considerably reduced Games programme.
Historic Moments on Final Day
The final day produced several memorable performances. Wales’ Emma Finucane created history by becoming the first sprint cyclist to win four track cycling gold medals at a single Commonwealth Games. Her achievement made her one of the standout athletes of Glasgow 2026.
The Isle of Man also celebrated a historic moment when Matthew Bostock won the final gold medal of the Games in track cycling, securing only the island’s fourth Commonwealth Games gold medal.
New Zealand claimed the women’s netball title, ending a 16-year wait for Commonwealth Games gold in the sport, while England added further medals in judo, bowls and para-cycling.
Pakistan Finish with One Bronze
Pakistan’s campaign ended with one bronze medal, secured by boxer Fatima Zahra, who became the first Pakistani woman to win a Commonwealth Games boxing medal. The result represented an important milestone for women’s boxing in Pakistan, although the overall medal haul fell well short of the country’s previous performances.
Pakistan’s limited success also highlighted the challenges faced by the country after the Glasgow Games programme was reduced to 10 sports, with several traditional medal opportunities absent.
Final Medal Table — Glasgow 2026
Rank
Country
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Total
1
Australia
70
45
56
171
2
England
29
45
36
110
3
Canada
19
20
23
62
4
India
13
17
9
39
5
Scotland
13
11
15
39
6
New Zealand
9
14
13
36
7
Nigeria
7
8
9
24
8
South Africa
6
8
8
22
9
Malaysia
5
6
8
19
10
Wales
0
8
12
20
—
Pakistan
0
0
1
1
*Medal rankings are determined primarily by gold medals, followed by silver and bronze. Australia’s final total of 171 medals and India’s 39-medal haul are confirmed by the final results. *
A New Chapter for the Commonwealth Games
Glasgow 2026 was significantly smaller than previous editions, with only 10 sports compared with 19 at Birmingham 2022. Yet organisers described the Games as a successful demonstration of a more flexible and financially sustainable model for the future. The event also placed greater emphasis on integrated para-sport competition.
With the Commonwealth flag now passed to India, attention turns to Amdavad 2030, which will host the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games. India has already indicated plans for a larger programme featuring approximately 15 to 17 sports.
The Glasgow Games therefore ended not simply with medals and celebrations, but with a message of renewal: from Scotland’s historic sporting city to India’s rapidly growing sporting landscape, the Commonwealth Games now enter a new era with Amdavad 2030 carrying the responsibility of shaping the event’s next century.
