Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday stressed that the welfare and interests of athletes must remain the top priority for all stakeholders in the country’s sporting ecosystem.
Mandaviya chaired the National Sports Federation (NSF) Conclave 2026, which was attended by Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Smt. Raksha Khadse, senior officials of the Ministry, representatives of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and National Sports Federations (NSFs).
The conclave focused on strengthening sports governance, improving athlete welfare and reviewing India’s preparations for major international sporting events, including the Asian Games 2026, Los Angeles Olympics 2028 and Commonwealth Games 2030.
Addressing the gathering, Mandaviya said athletes must be protected from any form of injustice.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that no athlete is ever subjected to injustice. Injustice can take many forms, and wherever such a situation arises,” he said.
The Union Minister called for greater transparency and accountability in athlete selection processes, particularly during open selection trials.
“Open selection trials should be recorded on camera in the presence of observers. There should be absolutely no compromise on transparency in the selection process,” Dr. Mandaviya stated.
The conclave also featured presentations on the compliance status of National Sports Federations under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, governance practices within sports bodies and the preparedness of NSFs for the upcoming international sporting calendar.
Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for Indian sports, Mandaviya said the focus should remain on keeping athletes active in competition while building a stronger league culture across the country.
“The Prime Minister has consistently emphasised the need to keep athletes on the playing field and develop a strong league culture in the country. Every National Sports Federation must work towards creating greater competitive opportunities for athletes throughout the year.”
Doping was another key issue discussed at the conclave, with Mandaviya calling for a comprehensive approach to tackle the problem. He said the existing anti-doping framework needs to be strengthened and noted that the Government is working on amendments to make the system more effective.
“We must collectively tackle the menace of doping. It is not enough to act only against athletes. The entire chain—from manufacturers and suppliers to facilitators and users—must be identified and dealt with through a transparent and robust mechanism. Only then can we effectively eradicate doping from sports,” he said.
Mandaviya also stressed the need to strengthen India’s indigenous coaching ecosystem and reduce excessive dependence on foreign coaches. He called for the creation of a repository of quality Indian coaches and greater investment in their training and international exposure.
“We need to build a repository of quality Indian coaches. Along with training athletes, we must invest equally in training our coaches by providing them the best opportunities and international exposure. A well-trained coach will ultimately create world-class athletes for the country,” he said.
The Sports Ministry reiterated the Government’s commitment to working closely with NSFs to improve governance standards, ensure compliance with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, and strengthen India’s preparations for the Asian Games 2026, Los Angeles Olympics 2028 and Commonwealth Games 2030.
