Ahmedabad: India’s long-term sporting goals received fresh emphasis on Friday as Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya asserted that securing a place among the top 10 nations on the Olympic medals table remains a firm national objective. He stressed that achieving this milestone will require strong collaboration and accountability from National Sports Federations and State Olympic Associations.
“Performance must show consistent improvement in every major international competition, beginning with the Asian Games 2026. The Commonwealth Games 2030 should emerge as a landmark success for India, both as hosts and as a sporting powerhouse,” he said at the Sports Governance Conclave organised by the Union government, in association with the government of Gujarat and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad.
Addressing the gathering, the minister highlighted the government’s clear priorities for India’s sports ecosystem, according to an official statement. He emphasised governance reforms, systematic talent identification from grassroots to elite levels, enhanced competitive exposure, strengthening the coaching network, and increasing private sector involvement in sports infrastructure, academies, and leagues.
Dr. Mandaviya noted that over the past 18 months, the government has built a strong institutional framework reflecting its commitment to reform Indian sports. “Once a decision is taken, the government has demonstrated both political will and clarity of purpose in its implementation,” he said. He was referring to initiatives such as the National Sports Governance Act (NSGA), Khelo Bharat Niti, reforms in ANSF norms, and improvements in coach recruitment systems.
Making the government’s stance unequivocal, he stated that persistent problems in sports federations – including internal politics, corruption, unfair selection trials, injustice to athletes, governance disputes, and financial irregularities – must end.
He stressed that the well-being of athletes and the country’s sporting reputation take top priority, adding that while federations’ independence is respected, they are expected to uphold the same standards of transparency, fairness, and athlete-focused governance.
The minister stressed that the effective implementation of the NSGA depends on federations, which must ensure fair and timely elections, financial transparency, functional athlete and ethics commissions, and strict adherence to governance norms.
Urging a professional and forward-looking approach, Dr. Mandaviya called on each federation to prepare a roadmap for the next 1, 3, 5, and 10 years. He emphasised that sports bodies should be professionally managed, with qualified CEOs, finance and marketing experts, international-level coaches, and specialised operations teams.
He further announced that the Government would soon roll out key policy measures, including transparent and standardised selection trials, the “One Corporate, One Sport” model, and enhanced athlete welfare packages.
Highlighting the substantial public investment in sports science, nutrition, injury management, and high-performance support, Dr. Mandaviya urged federations to match the government’s speed and ambition.
