Sports Ministry to hold day-long review next week after India’s Asian Games showing
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in New Delhi on October 8, 2026 that the Sports Ministry will conduct a detailed, day‑long review next week of India’s performance at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi‑Nagoya, after the team returned with 85 medals.
India finished the Aichi‑Nagoya Games with 85 medals — 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze — 21 fewer than at the previous edition, and ministry officials have expressed dissatisfaction with results from several disciplines despite a late rally in the competition’s closing days. The 20‑day meet produced 22 medals across 14 disciplines, including firsts in golf, MMA and soft tennis, and team golds in kabaddi, hockey and cricket.
Ministry sources said an internal assessment found “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.” The sources added that “It was the youngsters and debutants who saved India’s campaign in the last few days. These questions will have to be answered.”
Officials singled out marquee sports for particular concern: “Badminton was India’s biggest hope, but the contingent could only manage a men’s team bronze.” In shooting the haul was three golds, two of them in team events, down from seven at the previous Games, and athletics produced just one gold — “the women’s 4x400m relay team.”
The ministry criticised accountability under existing funding mechanisms, saying: “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,” and indicated the Target Olympic Podium Scheme’s structure may also be reviewed.
On team performances the ministry said: “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.
Sources confirmed that some tough questions will have to be answered by both federations and athletes, and the review meeting is expected to be held on October 13 or 14.