India’s Sports Minister Calls for Enhanced Coordination Among National Federations Post Asian Games

New Delhi, October 15 (Daily Kiran) : In the wake of India securing fourth place at the 2026 Asian Games, Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has called on national sports federations (NSFs) to take greater responsibility for the country’s athletic performance. During discussions with leaders from various NSFs, he emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to maintain and enhance India’s sports excellence.

Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the importance of developing a consistent pipeline of champions rather than relying solely on a few medal winners. “How long can Mirabai Chanu keep winning medals for us alone? We need ten more Mirabai Chanu’s,” he stated. He urged every federation to take this responsibility seriously, focusing on identifying talent, providing proper training, and creating an environment conducive to athletes reaching their highest potential.

The minister also stressed the necessity of identifying and nurturing athletes who can sustain India’s medal-winning aspirations in the future. A review of India’s performance at the Asian Games was conducted during the recent NSF meeting, alongside assessments of preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the 2030 Commonwealth Games, and the 2030 Asian Games in Doha. Representatives from major sports federations, including shooting, athletics, boxing, archery, squash, and wushu, participated in the discussions.

Dr. Mandaviya pointed out the need for sports psychologists, sports science experts, and high-level mental trainers to help athletes maintain focus during international competitions. He urged all NSFs to organize more competitions, strengthen athlete preparations, and earnestly evaluate their performance and administration shortcomings.

During the meeting, Vinil Krishna, Joint Secretary of the Khelo India initiative, discussed enhancing coordination between the Khelo India program and the NSFs. Colonel N.S. also shared insights, while the CEO of TOPS reviewed performances at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and assessed preparations for the Los Angeles Olympics. A revised guideline booklet related to the support of National Sports Federations (NSF) was also released at the conference.

Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Raksha Khadse urged all federations to align their operations with the vision of the Khelo India mission. He emphasized that every National Sports Association (NSA) must ensure the effective functioning of state and district-level federations. “Identifying talent is just one part of the process; athletes must also receive the right training and support to reach their full potential,” he added.

Khadse reiterated that NSFs should ensure the proper functioning of federations at the state and district levels. He stated, “Through collective efforts, we can strengthen athlete preparations, create better pathways for talent, and increase India’s medal tally.”

Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao stated that India aims to be among the top three countries at the 2030 Asian Games in Doha. He also mentioned that the upcoming Commonwealth Games in 2030, which India will host, should be viewed as a significant national challenge.

“We should aim for third place at the Doha Asian Games and strive to break our own record from the 2010 Commonwealth Games to secure a top-three finish. As we are hosting these games, every NSF must take this competition seriously and prepare accordingly,” he stressed.

Previously, Rao likened the sports ecosystem to a four-wheeled vehicle that can only move forward when all its components—athletes, coaches, NSFs, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI)—work together.