Mandaviya chairs New Delhi review of India’s Asian Games showing, tells federations to deliver
A one-day conclave in New Delhi on Thursday, chaired by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, reviewed India’s performance at the recent Asian Games and sought accountability from national sports federations.
The day-long meeting featured presentations from the federations, which analysed their results and outlined future plans, and ministry sources said there were no dramatic confrontations. Indian Olympic Association president P.T. Usha, sports secretary Hari Ranjan Rao and Target Olympic Podium Scheme CEO N.S. Johal attended the review alongside officials from multiple sports bodies.
Mandaviya told the federations they must shoulder more responsibility for India’s sporting output and reduce dependence on a small group of established athletes. “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,” he said.
The agenda addressed concerns raised by Usha about injured athletes travelling to Aichi-Nagoya and included an assessment of preparations for major forthcoming events, explicitly citing the 2028 Olympics, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in 2030. Delegations from shooting, athletics, boxing, archery and squash were among those who presented their post-Games reviews and planning notes.
Mandaviya also urged federations to expand support staff beyond coaches, specifying the need for more tertiary sports experts such as psychologists and mental trainers. He pressed NSFs to increase the number of domestic competitions and to conduct internal reviews to identify performance and administrative shortfalls.
A ministry official summarised the tone of the meeting by stressing resource availability and the demand for tangible outcomes: “The minister was very clear that there is no dearth of resources and that NSFs can no longer complain about financial support. They have to deliver on the ground, not just make presentations,” the official said.
Federations left the conclave tasked with strengthening talent identification, improving training systems and expanding competition calendars as part of preparations for the 2028 Olympics, the Commonwealth Games and the 2030 Asian Games, with the ministry demanding measurable progress rather than further presentations.