Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has urged National Sports Federations (NSFs) to take greater responsibility for India’s sporting performance and build a sustainable pipeline of champions following the country’s fourth-place finish at the 2026 Asian Games.
Addressing representatives of major sports federations at a review meeting on Thursday, Dr Mandaviya called for greater coordination among stakeholders to sustain India’s progress in international sports. He emphasised that the country must move beyond dependence on a handful of star performers and develop a broader pool of athletes capable of winning medals consistently across sporting cycles.
“How long will Mirabai Chanu alone keep winning medals for us? We need to produce 10 more Mirabai Chanus. Every federation must take this responsibility seriously. We have to identify talent, provide the right training and create an environment in which athletes can progress to the highest level,” the Sports Minister said.
The conclave reviewed India’s performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 and assessed preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2030 Asian Games in Doha. Representatives from major NSFs, including shooting, athletics, boxing, archery, squash and wushu, participated in the deliberations.
Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the importance of strengthening sports science support, particularly through the appointment of more sports psychologists, sports science experts and high-performance mental trainers. He noted the need to help athletes maintain focus and perform under pressure at major international competitions.
He also called on federations to organise more competitions, improve athlete preparation and undertake an honest assessment of shortcomings in both sporting performance and administration. Greater commitment and coordinated action, he stressed, would be essential to achieving India’s long-term sporting ambitions.
As part of the meeting, Vineel Krishna, Joint Secretary (Khelo India), presented a discussion on aligning the Khelo India Scheme with the work of National Sports Federations. Col. N.S. Johal, CEO of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), presented a review of India’s Asian Games performance and preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The revised Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) guidelines booklet was also unveiled.
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse called on federations to align their activities with the vision of the Khelo India Mission and strengthen the sporting ecosystem from the grassroots level.
“Every NSF must ensure that state and district-level federations are also in place and functioning effectively. This work has to be undertaken wholeheartedly, alongside talent identification. Identifying talent is only one part of the process; athletes must also receive the correct training and support to reach their potential,” she said.
Khadse emphasised that effective grassroots structures, systematic talent identification and appropriate training support must go hand in hand to create a stronger pathway for aspiring athletes.
“Only through a collective effort can we strengthen athlete preparation, create a better pathway for talent and increase India’s medal tally,” she added.
Secretary (Sports) Hari Ranjan Rao set out ambitious targets for India’s upcoming international sporting commitments, calling for a top-three finish at the 2030 Asian Games in Doha. He also stressed that hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games would bring added responsibility, requiring every federation to begin preparations well in advance.
“We have to strive to finish third at the Asian Games in Doha. For the 2030 Commonwealth Games, we must break our own record from the 2010 Commonwealth Games and finish among the top three. Since we are hosting the Games, every NSF must take the competition seriously and prepare accordingly. We must treat this as a challenge and work towards it from now,” Rao said.
Earlier, Rao had described India’s sporting ecosystem as a four-wheel vehicle, explaining that sustained progress depended on the collective functioning of four key pillars: athletes, coaches, National Sports Federations, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports along with the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
The meeting underscored the government’s focus on strengthening coordination, improving athlete development and establishing clear performance targets as India prepares for a demanding international sporting calendar leading up to 2030.
