Sports Ministry to hold day-long review after India’s Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games return
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a detailed, day-long review next week after India returned with 85 medals from the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, the Sports Ministry said on October 14, 2026. The ministry has expressed displeasure at below-par performances across several disciplines, with the loss of gold medals a particular concern.
India returned with 85 medals — 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze — which is 21 fewer than at the previous edition of the Games. The review meeting is expected to be held on October 13 or 14 and will examine the overall showing across sports and athletes.
“As per the ministry’s internal assessment, 89 experienced athletes across 23 disciplines disappointed, returning without any medal. There was a significant gap between investment (approx ₹27.16 cr) and performance across nine disciplines involving 34 athletes, mainly in shooting and badminton,” ministry sources confirmed on Thursday.
Sources added that the late surge in results came from younger competitors. “It was the youngsters and debutants who saved India’s campaign in the last few days. These questions will have to be answered.”
The ministry also raised concerns about accountability under government-supported schemes. “A lot needs to change. The problem is not spending; it is the absence of proportionate outcome and any accountability for the money spent, specially on those under TOPS, where the government pays anything that the players demand and bill for,” they added, indicating that the Target Olympic Podium Scheme’s structure may also be reviewed.
Several marquee sports underperformed: badminton, India’s biggest hope, managed only a men’s team bronze, while shooting produced three gold medals — two in team events — down from seven at the previous Games. Athletics yielded a single gold, the women’s 4x400m relay team.
“There were also several firsts through the 20-day competition — 22 medals across 14 disciplines including golf, MMA and soft tennis — but it is the disappointing showing by some of the biggest Indian sports stars, specially in marquee events like badminton and shooting, that has drawn the ministry’s ire. The team events performed as per expectation, winning gold in both men and women in kabaddi, hockey and cricket. But otherwise, a lot of experienced players seemed to be content in their comfort zone and unwilling to push themselves. That cannot be accepted,” they added.
The immediate outcome is a scheduled, detailed review by the Sports Ministry on October 13 or 14, during which sources say federations and athletes will face tough questions about performance and expenditure.
