New Delhi: Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday attended the National Sports Federation Conclave 2026, bringing together representatives from 37 National Sports Federations, including the Indian Olympic Association, to chart India’s sporting roadmap ahead of major international competitions.
The conclave focused on strengthening preparations for the Commonwealth Games 2026, Asian Games 2026, and the Summer Olympics 2028 in Los Angeles, with discussions centred on long-term planning, governance reforms, and sustained support for Indian athletes on the global stage, according to an official statement.
Addressing the conclave, Mandaviya described the gathering as a coordinated step towards India’s preparation for upcoming global sporting events. He highlighted the government’s broader vision of transforming India into a leading sporting nation through long-term planning, scientific training, stronger sporting infrastructure, and sustained support for athletes competing at the highest international level.
The minister stressed the importance of institutional reforms and good governance, saying that India’s sporting future depended on stronger coordination between athletes, federations, and the government.
He called for greater transparency, timely elections, accountability, and stronger institutional mechanisms within federations, emphasising that governance must remain athlete-centric, and that athlete welfare should be at the heart of India’s sporting ecosystem.
Mandaviya also reiterated the government’s firm commitment to eradicating doping from Indian sport through awareness, education, and stricter legal measures. He urged federations, coaches, and support staff to take collective responsibility in building a clean and transparent sporting culture across the country.
The minister further outlined the government’s larger vision of strengthening the sports ecosystem through flagship initiatives, including Khelo India, the Fit India Movement, and the forthcoming Khelo Bharat Mission.
During the conclave, Mandaviya formally released the National Sports Governance Act 2025 Rules and Reform Guidelines Handbook, a significant step towards institutionalising governance reforms across Indian sports federations. He also emphasised the need for open and fair athlete selection processes, enhanced international engagement for federations, and increased investment in athletes, coaches, and governance mechanisms.
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse underscored the importance of long-term planning, athlete support systems, and scientific training in building a future-ready sporting ecosystem.
She said India’s march towards the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Olympics 2028 would be driven by performance, powered by science, and anchored in stronger federations.
Secretary of Sports Hari Ranjan Rao emphasised collective responsibility and long-term planning as essential pillars of India’s sporting ambitions, saying that the discussions held at the conclave would shape India’s sporting future with an eye on 2036.
