Is India Aiming to Become One of the Top Ten Sporting Nations?

New Delhi, Sep 12 (NationPress) Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, proclaimed on Friday that the long-term vision of the current administration is to elevate India into the ranks of the world’s top ten sporting nations.

“We have formulated a comprehensive 10-year and a 25-year strategy in alignment with the vision articulated by Prime Minister Modi ji. Our objective is to transform India into a developed nation and secure a position among the top 10 sporting nations globally. These strategies are ready for implementation, accompanied by necessary policy adjustments to facilitate them.”

“In the forthcoming days, we can already sense the transformations occurring within the Indian sports domain. Our ambition must be to see the Indian flag proudly displayed on every podium worldwide. We need to elevate sports into a grassroots movement, a collective mission where every citizen feels a connection and contributes to India’s sporting achievements,” Mandaviya stated during his address at the PlayCom - Business of Sports Summit 2025.

Furthermore, he indicated that additional efforts are necessary for athletes to compete effectively in various Indian sporting leagues. “To realize this, we must cultivate a robust work culture, identify talent at an early stage, and nurture it systematically. Our esteemed athletes should be at the forefront of this initiative, and we must create more pathways for gifted players to compete and develop within India.”

Mandaviya, who assumed the role of Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports on June 11, 2024, elaborated on the reforms initiated during his tenure, including the groundbreaking introduction and eventual approval of the National Sports Governance Bill and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill.

“To forge a better sports ecosystem nationwide and enhance public interest in sports, we must implement reforms and positive changes. Initiatives like Fit India and Khelo India have already been launched, supplemented by schemes such as TOPS, while providing elite athletes with a holistic support system.”

“We have crafted a vision document and established a sports policy. We aspire for the best model, but it must be uniquely ours. There is a wealth of talent throughout the country, and this talent must be afforded opportunities through the establishment of a robust sports ecosystem. To ensure sound governance, we introduced the Sports Governance Bill, which is centered on athletes.

“Previously, federations often prioritized their internal disputes over athletes, but now our focus is to position athletes at the heart of sports. The Bill also guarantees greater representation of women in sports, as we are committed to enhancing women’s involvement.”

“Sports governance should not be a source of conflict but a means to resolve it. Therefore, we have incorporated provisions for immediate dispute resolution in the Sports Governance Bill. Special measures have been instituted to protect athletes' interests,” he concluded.