Officials must prioritize athletes or stay home says government
Indian sports administration is undergoing a significant shift in attitude. Sending a stern message to the country’s sports federations, the Sports Ministry has made it clear that international events are strictly for business, not leisure. During the recent Sports Governance Conclave in Ahmedabad, officials were explicitly warned against treating multi-sport events as a "family outing."
Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao did not mince words when addressing senior officials from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and National Sports Federations. He emphasized that if officials cannot be available for athletes 100 per cent of the time, they should simply not travel. Rao highlighted how shameful it is when a large contingent of administrators travels abroad, yet no one is present when an athlete actually needs support.
Strict Deadlines and Medal Hopes
Attention has now turned to the immediate future, specifically the upcoming Commonwealth Games (CWG) and the Asian Games. The Sports Ministry has demanded strict adherence to selection timelines.
Rao pointed out that the Organizing Committee for the Asian Games in Japan has set a rigid deadline of January 30 for name submissions. He warned federations that the Japanese organizers are "ruthless" regarding schedules and will not make adjustments for late entries.
Despite the administrative warnings, there is optimism regarding performance. The government projects an impressive haul of 111 medals at the upcoming Asian Games, surpassing the record 106 medals won in Hangzhou. However, expectations for the CWG have been tempered to around 20 medals. This reduction is largely due to the removal of sports where India traditionally dominates, such as hockey, shooting, wrestling, and badminton.
Vision for 2036 and Beyond
Beyond immediate targets, the conclave focused on a long-term 10-year medal strategy approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ultimate question posed to the federations was, "Are we ready to host the 2036 Olympics?"
Current statistics paint a concerning picture. Officials noted that for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, India’s participation remains significantly lower than sporting powerhouses like the US and China. To crack the top-10 club by 2036, India needs to target 12 to 14 gold medals and a total of 35 to 40 medals.
To achieve this, the Sports Ministry cited China’s "Project 119" before the Beijing Olympics as a model for focused improvement. The government plans to implement transformational changes, including setting up Olympic Training Centres for every sport and utilizing AI-driven mechanisms for talent scouting. Additionally, a new coaching certification board—suggested by a committee led by Pullela Gopichand—will soon be established to standardize coaching from the grassroots to the elite level.
