With 2026 shaping up to be a defining year for Indian sport, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has made one thing clear: delivery, not discussion, is the priority.
In a high-level meeting with top officials from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Sports Ministry on Thursday, Mandaviya asked administrators to set clear delivery targets, bring fresh ideas to the table and tackle doping with zero tolerance.
The year ahead is stacked. The Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, multiple world championships and the start of Olympic qualification cycles in shooting and hockey make 2026 a launchpad for India’s global ambitions.
At the heart of Mandaviya’s vision is an ambitious long-term plan: dedicated Olympic Centres for every sport across the country.
The groundwork for that project, officials were told, must begin now.
The minister has also pushed for the launch of national leagues in at least five new sports this year, with the government ready to provide financial backing to federations willing to take the plunge.
“He wants priorities defined and targets delivered,” a ministry source told PTI. “There will be review meetings every 15 days with deputy director-level officers to drive accountability and innovation.”
One issue, however, drew particular urgency: doping.
India has topped the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of offenders for three consecutive years, an embarrassment Mandaviya wants stamped out. SAI and NADA have been directed to roll out aggressive awareness campaigns — with strict action promised for repeat offenders.
Mandaviya is also keen to expand private sports academies, backed by government support in areas like sports science and coaching expertise.
With Ahmedabad set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and India eyeing the 2036 Olympics, the message from the Sports Ministry is unmistakable: the road to medals begins now — and there’s no room for shortcuts.
(with PTI inputs)
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