Amit Shah: India's sports goal is strengthening every discipline, not just medals
Synopsis
Amit Shah used the inauguration of the World Archery Para Series Amdavad 2026 to reframe India's sporting ambition — away from medal tallies and toward a full-spectrum ecosystem covering training, infrastructure, injury care, and equipment manufacturing. With 108 athletes from 19 countries in Ahmedabad, the event is also a signal of India's intent to become a recurring host of elite global para sports competitions.
Key Takeaways
Amit Shah inaugurated the World Archery Para Series Amdavad 2026 in Ahmedabad on 4 September .
Shah said India's goal is to strengthen all sports in the Olympics , Asian Games , Commonwealth Games , and Police Games — not just maximise medals.
The tournament runs from 5 to 9 September , featuring 108 athletes from 19 countries .
Shah projected India and Gujarat as future global hubs for sports training, equipment manufacturing, and sports injury rehabilitation.
Para archers Harvinder Singh , Sheetal Devi , Rakesh Kumar , Shyam Sundar Sami , and Payal Nag were cited as exemplars of India's para sports success.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday, 4 September declared that India's sporting ambition must extend well beyond medal counts, calling for a comprehensive ecosystem that strengthens every sport featured in major international competitions. He made the remarks at the inauguration of the World Archery Para Series Amdavad 2026 in Ahmedabad, organised by the Archery Association of India.
What Shah Said
'Our aim is not merely to win the maximum number of medals, but to strengthen all the sports included in the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Police Games, and other such competitions,' Shah said at the event. He framed this as a deliberate policy direction under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, aimed at building sporting depth rather than chasing podium finishes alone.
Shah added that sport's development in India must encompass competition, training, infrastructure, equipment, and specialised support systems — not just medal tallies. In a post on social media platform X, he described the World Archery Para Series as a test of 'single-minded focus' for archers, and said the competition would 'establish new benchmarks of excellence.'
India as a Global Sports Hub
Shah asserted that India — and Gujarat in particular — would emerge as a major global centre for sports training, sports equipment manufacturing, sports injury care, and rehabilitation. 'In the coming days, India will rapidly emerge as a global leader in the fields of sports engineering and sports medical science, while also becoming a major medical centre for the treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries,' he said.
He added that facilities being developed in Ahmedabad are designed to international standards and will support athletes beyond the immediate events hosted in the city. The wider objective, he said, is to make India the world's largest sporting hub.
Para Archery Champions Highlighted
Shah cited the achievements of Indian para archers Harvinder Singh, Sheetal Devi, Rakesh Kumar, Shyam Sundar Sami, and Payal Nag as examples of athletes who have represented India with distinction at the global level. He cautioned, however, that facilities and coaching alone do not create champions. 'The true foundation of becoming a champion is an athlete's passion, dedication and determination to win,' he said.
About the Tournament
The World Archery Para Series Amdavad 2026 runs from 5 to 9 September in Ahmedabad, drawing 108 athletes from 19 countries. The event marks a significant moment for para archery in India, reflecting the country's growing capacity to host elite international adaptive sports competitions. This comes amid a broader push by the Centre to position Indian cities as recurring venues for global sporting events.
Point of View
And para sports funding has historically been an afterthought. The invocation of Ahmedabad as a future global sports-injury hub is ambitious; it will require sustained investment and institutional follow-through, not just inauguration-day pledges. Whether this speech translates into budgetary commitments or remains aspirational positioning ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics cycle is the question worth tracking.
NationPress
5 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the World Archery Para Series Amdavad 2026?
It is an international para archery competition held in Ahmedabad from 5 to 9 September 2026, organised by the Archery Association of India. The event features 108 athletes from 19 countries and is part of the global World Archery Para Series circuit.
What did Amit Shah say about India's sports ambition?
Shah said India's goal should not be limited to winning the maximum number of medals, but should focus on strengthening every sport featured in the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and other major competitions. He called for building a full ecosystem covering training, infrastructure, equipment, and injury care.
Which Indian para archers did Amit Shah mention?
Shah highlighted the achievements of Harvinder Singh, Sheetal Devi, Rakesh Kumar, Shyam Sundar Sami, and Payal Nag as Indian para archers who have successfully represented the country at the global level.
What is India's plan to become a global sports hub?
According to Shah, India plans to develop as a global centre for sports training, sports equipment manufacturing, sports engineering, sports medical science, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. Ahmedabad's facilities are being built to international standards to support this vision.
Why is the World Archery Para Series significant for India?
The event signals India's growing capacity to host elite international adaptive sports competitions and aligns with the Centre's broader push to position Indian cities as recurring venues for global sporting events, particularly in para sports.
