Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a detailed, day-long review of India's performance at the Asian Games 2026 next week, with tough questions expected for both federations and athletes after a campaign that fell short of expectations. The review meeting is expected on October 13 or 14, according to ministry sources quoted by Sportstar.
India returned from Aichi-Nagoya with 85 medals, including 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze — 21 medals fewer than the country's record tally at the previous edition. While the final days of the Games salvaged the campaign, the ministry is concerned less about the overall count and more about the gold medals lost.
What the Ministry's Internal Assessment Found
According to the ministry's internal assessment, 89 experienced athletes across 23 disciplines returned without any medal. There was a significant gap between investment — approximately Rs 27.16 crore — and performance across nine disciplines involving 34 athletes, mainly in shooting and badminton, and the review is expected to examine the structure of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), under which the government funds athletes' demands. Ministry sources said experienced players appeared content in their comfort zone and unwilling to push themselves, and called the situation unacceptable.
The Bright Spots and the Blind Spots
The Games were not without firsts: India won 22 medals across 14 disciplines, including debut medals in golf, mixed martial arts and soft tennis. Badminton, however, managed only a men's team bronze despite being India's biggest medal hope, shooting fell from seven golds last time to three — two of them in team events — and athletics managed only one gold, from the women's 4x400m relay team. Team events, in contrast, performed as per expectations, with India winning gold in both the men's and women's tournaments in kabaddi, hockey and cricket.
The review is expected to set the tone for how India prepares its athletes for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, with accountability for funded athletes high on the agenda.
Sources: Sportstar — Sports Ministry to review India's Asian Games 2026 performance
India returned from Aichi-Nagoya with 85 medals, including 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze — 21 medals fewer than the country's record tally at the previous edition. While the final days of the Games salvaged the campaign, the ministry is concerned less about the overall count and more about the gold medals lost.
What the Ministry's Internal Assessment Found
According to the ministry's internal assessment, 89 experienced athletes across 23 disciplines returned without any medal. There was a significant gap between investment — approximately Rs 27.16 crore — and performance across nine disciplines involving 34 athletes, mainly in shooting and badminton, and the review is expected to examine the structure of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), under which the government funds athletes' demands. Ministry sources said experienced players appeared content in their comfort zone and unwilling to push themselves, and called the situation unacceptable.
The Bright Spots and the Blind Spots
The Games were not without firsts: India won 22 medals across 14 disciplines, including debut medals in golf, mixed martial arts and soft tennis. Badminton, however, managed only a men's team bronze despite being India's biggest medal hope, shooting fell from seven golds last time to three — two of them in team events — and athletics managed only one gold, from the women's 4x400m relay team. Team events, in contrast, performed as per expectations, with India winning gold in both the men's and women's tournaments in kabaddi, hockey and cricket.
The review is expected to set the tone for how India prepares its athletes for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, with accountability for funded athletes high on the agenda.
Sources: Sportstar — Sports Ministry to review India's Asian Games 2026 performance
