New Delhi, March 5: India’s Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, chaired a high-level meeting at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) headquarters on Thursday. The meeting focused on reviewing India’s preparations for the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, along with senior officials from SAI, briefed Dr. Mandaviya on the country’s readiness ahead of the event. They assured that athletes would receive all possible support for optimal performance.
A 15-member committee was formed to oversee the preparations for the 2026 Asian Games. This committee includes Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, PT Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association, and other key figures. Since December 2025, the committee has held four meetings to streamline training, logistics, athlete welfare, and event preparation. They are also developing a strategic roadmap for India’s campaign at the Games.
During the meeting, Dr. Mandaviya reiterated the government’s commitment to athlete welfare and performance, stating that athletes are the top priority. He emphasized that comprehensive support would be provided, covering training, sports science, logistics, kit support, food, and medical care. The goal is to ensure athletes can prepare without disruptions and focus on increasing India’s medal tally at the Asian Games.
The minister stressed the need for collaboration among all stakeholders. He indicated that strategic preparation, a robust support system, and timely planning would play a crucial role in achieving new milestones for India at the 2026 Asian Games.
As part of the preparations, each National Sports Federation (NSF) has appointed a nodal officer for the AG Technical Handbook. This officer will provide technical details to NSF athletes, coaches, and support staff, ensuring optimal performance at the Games. Teams will be finalized well in advance, allowing athletes ample time for focused preparation. Additionally, efforts are being made to strengthen the capacity of support staff, including medical teams, and to ensure smooth coordination with Indian embassies abroad for logistics. Federations have been given the freedom to plan exposure tours and competition schedules ahead of time. For disciplines with complex operational planning, support will be arranged at various locations, with staff deployed at every venue. Special attention is also being given to aspects like food and environmental conditions.
The country’s target is to surpass the historic record of 106 medals achieved at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022, with strategic planning, thorough preparation, and seamless coordination among all stakeholders. Over 700 Indian athletes are expected to compete in more than 40 sports disciplines at the 2026 Games.
The meeting highlighted that the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will follow a unique five-cluster competition model, where athletes will compete across multiple prefectures instead of a single Olympic-village-style location. Venues will be spread across clusters in Aichi, Gifu, Shizuoka, and the Airport-Expo zone, necessitating detailed planning for travel, logistics, medical assistance, and athlete recovery.
To help athletes adjust to the living conditions during the Games, makeshift container units will be set up at SAI regional centers in Patiala and Bengaluru. This initiative aims to familiarize athletes with container-style accommodations during the Games.
Officials noted that this measure would aid athletes in adjusting quickly and minimize distractions during competition.
The meeting also reviewed a four-day reconnaissance visit by an IOA delegation in January, which inspected essential competition venues, athlete facilities, and logistics infrastructure in Japan. Based on the findings, plans are being implemented according to clusters, with each cluster assigned logistics officers, medical teams, and support staff to ensure uninterrupted operations for Indian athletes.
In the months leading up to the Games, various athlete-focused strategies were discussed, including appointing a head medical doctor for the team and ensuring Indian food options for athletes with the help of selected SAI cooking staff. The importance of performance reviews by discipline, timely finalization of teams, and capacity building for support staff, including medical and recovery teams, was also emphasized.
The next committee meeting is scheduled for March 20, where final discussions will take place regarding team size, logistics, travel management, and operational preparations.
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