First common wealth games was organized in 1930 in Hamilton in Ontario, Canada, and was called the British Empire Games. Since then it has taken place 21 times. CWG 2018 organized in Gold Coast 2018,Australia was 21st edition. India didn’t participate in 1930, 1950, 1962 and 1986 CWG. In 1938 and 1954 India couldn’t open it account and didn’t win a single medal.
It is interesting to know that games held in 1930, 1934, 1938 and 1950 were called British Empire games. Games held in 154, 1958,1962 and 1966 were called British empire and commonwealth games. Games held in 1970 and 1974 were called British common wealth games.
Also Read, India’s Performance in Gold coast CWG 2018
Commonwealth games was first used in 1978 and since then it is called commonwealth games.
In 2018 India ended it campaign with 66 medals which included 26 gold, 20 silver and 20 bronze. India’s first ever medal was won by Rashid Anwar in 1930 in wrestling category. it was also sole medal won by India till 1958 !
Till date, India has won 504 medals which includes 181 gold, 175 silver and 148 bronze medals. Indi’as best performance came in 2010 Delhi games. In 2010 India won 101 medals including 38 gold, 27 silver and 36 bronze medals. India achieved highest rank in this game and was on no.2 in medal tally.
India’s overall medal tally
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | Position |
| 1930 | Did not Participate | ||||
| 1934 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| 1938 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| 1950 | Did not Participate | ||||
| 1954 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| 1958 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| 1962 | Did not Participate | ||||
| 1966 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 8 |
| 1970 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 6 |
| 1974 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 6 |
| 1978 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 6 |
| 1982 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 6 |
| 1986 | Did not Participate | ||||
| 1990 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 32 | 5 |
| 1994 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 25 | 6 |
| 1998 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 25 | 7 |
| 2002 | 30 | 22 | 17 | 69 | 4 |
| 2006 | 22 | 17 | 11 | 50 | 4 |
| 2010 | 38 | 27 | 36 | 101 | 2nd Best till date |
| 2014 | 15 | 30 | 19 | 64 | 5 |
| 2018 | 26 | 20 | 20 | 66 | 3rd |
| Total | 181 | 175 | 148 | 504 | 4 |
India performance has improved since 2002 Manchester, England CWG. In 2002 India won 69 medals and finished on 4th position. In this game India won 30 gold, 22 silver and 17 bronze medals.
In 2006 CWG held at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 and 26 march. India earned 50 medals which includes 22 Gold, 17 silver and 11 bronze medals. India ended its campaign at 4th position behind Australia. England and Canada.
India’s best performance came in 2010 CWG held in Delhi, India. India won 101 medals including 38 gold. India was second in overall medal tally behind only Australia who won 177 medals.
In 2014 20th CWG were held in Glasgow, Scotland. Scotland put a spirited face and won 53 medals. India finished 5th behind Scotland, Canada, Australia and England. India won India won 64 medals which included 15 Gold, 30 silver and 14 bronze.