Sports
oi-Swastika Sruti
India’s medal performance at the 2026 Asian Games has raised concerns within the country’s sports administration, prompting Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to hold a review meeting with officials and representatives of several National Sports Federations (NSFs).
India’s Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed the 2026 Asian Games medal performance, urging federations to develop more elite athletes like Mirabai Chanu and improve preparations for the 2028 Olympics and 2030 Commonwealth Games.
The meeting focused on the reasons behind the decline in medals, the need to develop more elite athletes and preparations for upcoming international sporting events.
Mandaviya stressed that India cannot depend on a small number of established athletes to win medals at major competitions. Citing weightlifter Mirabai Chanu as an example, he called on sports federations to identify and prepare more athletes who can compete successfully at the highest level.
The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P T Usha, Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) CEO N S Johal, along with representatives of several sports federations.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), the discussions also covered India’s preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which India is scheduled to host in Ahmedabad.
‘We Need To Produce 10 More Mirabai Chanus’
Mandaviya expressed concern over the country’s dependence on individual athletes in terms of medal collection. He highlighted the necessity to have in place a system that will regularly give birth to international-level performers from various sports.
“Mirabai Chanu will win medals for us only till when? We need to groom 10 more Mirabai Chanus,” Mandaviya remarked, as per the press note released by the ministry.
He urged all the National Sports Federations to shoulder greater responsibility in training athletes and enhancing their performance. It requires identifying budding talents and grooming them through quality coaching till they reach international levels.
Mandaviya stressed upon the need to have in place a continuous flow of athletes and not just rely on a few faces in order to maintain competitiveness in many international events.
More Sports Psychologists And Better Athlete Preparation
The ministry’s statement also highlighted the need to strengthen the support available to athletes beyond physical training.
Mandaviya called for greater involvement of sports psychologists, sports science specialists and high-performance mental trainers. These professionals can help athletes manage pressure, maintain concentration and perform consistently during major international competitions.
The minister also urged sports federations to organise more competitions and improve their preparation programmes. Regular exposure to competitive events can help athletes gain experience, identify weaknesses and prepare for the demands of international tournaments.
He further asked federations to assess their performance honestly, including shortcomings in administration and athlete development. The focus, according to the ministry, should be on identifying problems and taking practical steps to address them rather than relying only on presentations and plans.
Raksha Khadse Calls For Stronger State And District Sports Systems
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse stressed that talent identification must be supported by an effective sports structure at the grassroots level.
She said every National Sports Federation should ensure that its state and district-level units are established and functioning properly. These bodies play an important role in finding young athletes and providing them with opportunities to progress through the sporting system.
Khadse emphasised that identifying talented players is only the beginning. They must also receive suitable coaching, access to training facilities and the support needed to improve their performance.
A stronger grassroots structure could help India discover athletes from different parts of the country and expand the pool of competitors available for national teams.
‘No More Excuses’: Federations Asked To Deliver Results
More responsibilities were also assigned to sports federations to make good use of their resources to deliver improved performances.
As per a PTI report quoting an official present at the review meeting, it was clearly emphasized by the minister that the sports federations must concentrate on achieving results instead of always making complaints about lack of finances.
An official present at the review meeting further commented that federations must go beyond making presentations and work towards bringing changes on the ground. The meeting also entailed talks regarding future planning and how to improve the performance of India in future games.
Athlete Injuries Also Discussed During Review
The meeting also touched upon injuries suffered by Indian athletes Jyothi Yarraji and Praveen Chithravel on the day of their respective events, according to the PTI report.
IOA President P T Usha reportedly raised the cases during the discussion. The report said Mandaviya then directed the focus towards evaluating India’s overall performance rather than concentrating on individual incidents.
Athlete injuries can affect medal prospects, but the broader review also involved questions about preparation, competition exposure, performance assessment and the effectiveness of sports administration.
India’s preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games formed another important part of the discussions.
