Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday, 15 October 2026 called on National Sports Federations (NSFs) to overhaul talent identification and athlete development programmes, warning that India cannot sustain its medal-winning trajectory at major international competitions by relying on a handful of champions. The remarks came during a review meeting in New Delhi that assessed India's fourth-place finish at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Mandaviya's Core Message to Federations

Addressing federation representatives, Mandaviya made pointed use of a high-profile example to underscore systemic gaps. '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 minister stressed that sports psychology, sports science, and mental conditioning must become standard pillars of athlete preparation — not optional add-ons. He urged federations to organise more competitions, improve preparation structures, and conduct an honest audit of both performance shortfalls and administrative weaknesses.

Targets Set for 2030 and Los Angeles 2028

Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao set an ambitious benchmark: a top-three finish at the 2030 Asian Games in Doha. He also urged every NSF to treat the 2030 Commonwealth Games — to be hosted by India — as a national priority, calling for the country to surpass its own record from the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

'We have to strive to finish third at the Asian Games in Doha. For the 2030 Commonwealth Games, we must break our own record from the 2010 Commonwealth Games and finish among the top three. Since we are hosting the Games, every NSF must take the competition seriously and prepare accordingly. We must treat this as a challenge and work towards it from now,' Rao said.

Rao also framed the sporting ecosystem through a structural lens, comparing it to a four-wheel vehicle that moves forward only when athletes, coaches, NSFs, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports — together with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) — operate in sync.

Khelo India and ANSF Guidelines

Joint Secretary (Khelo India) Vineel Krishna outlined measures to strengthen coordination between the Khelo India scheme and individual federations. TOPS CEO Col. N.S. Johal presented a detailed review of India's Asian Games performance and outlined the roadmap toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. A revised guidelines booklet for Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) was also officially launched at the meeting.

MoS Khadse on State-Level Structures

Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse called for NSFs to align their programmes with the Khelo India Mission and ensure that state and district-level bodies were fully operational. She stressed that talent identification without corresponding training infrastructure amounted to an incomplete process.

'Every NSF must ensure that state and district-level federations are also in place and functioning effectively. This work has to be undertaken wholeheartedly, alongside talent identification. Identifying talent is only one part of the process; athletes must also receive the correct training and support to reach their potential,' Khadse said. She added: 'Only through a collective effort can we strengthen athlete preparation, create a better pathway for talent and increase India's medal tally.'

The conclave was attended by representatives from federations governing athletics, shooting, boxing, archery, squash, and wushu, among others. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics less than two years away and India hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2030, the pressure to convert this review into structural reform will define the Ministry's credibility over the next four years.