Key Highlights
- The message: “We need to produce 10 more Mirabai Chanus,” Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told sports federations.
- The review: India finished fourth at the 2026 Asian Games with 85 medals, including 21 gold.
- The target: A top-three finish at the 2030 Asian Games in Doha, said Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao.
- Home Games: India must beat its 2010 record at the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which it will host.
- The focus: Talent identification, sports science, mental conditioning and stronger state and district federations.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday urged National Sports Federations (NSFs) to strengthen talent identification and athlete development, warning that India cannot rely on a handful of stars to win medals.
“How long will Mirabai Chanu alone keep winning medals for us? We need to produce 10 more Mirabai Chanus. Every federation must take this responsibility seriously,” he said at a meeting reviewing India’s performance at the 2026 Asian Games.
He also stressed sports psychology, sports science and mental conditioning, and asked federations to hold more competitions and make an honest assessment of shortcomings in both performance and administration.
India at Aichi-Nagoya 2026
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Position | 4th |
| Medals | 85 (21 gold, 27 silver, 37 bronze) |
| Best edition | Hangzhou 2023, 106 medals |
| Top medal sports | Athletics (24), shooting (15) |
| Highlights | Women’s hockey gold after 44 years; Mirabai Chanu silver in weightlifting; Lovlina Borgohain boxing gold |
Why It Matters: The Gap to the Top Three
India’s 85 medals made it the country’s second-best Asian Games, but the top-three target set by Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao for Doha 2030 is a big leap. South Korea, which finished third at Aichi-Nagoya, won nearly double India’s gold tally. Closing that gap in four years will require many more athletes capable of winning gold, not just medals, across several sports.
That is the point behind Mandaviya’s Mirabai remark. A few stars can deliver headlines, but medal-table positions are decided by depth. India’s tally also fell from Hangzhou, with athletics and shooting delivering fewer medals, a sign that even traditional strengths need a stronger pipeline.
Targets Ahead
| Event | Target |
|---|---|
| 2028 Los Angeles Olympics | Preparations under review by TOPS |
| 2030 Commonwealth Games (hosted by India) | Beat the 2010 record and finish in the top three |
| 2030 Asian Games, Doha | Finish third |
“Since we are hosting the Games, every NSF must take the competition seriously and prepare accordingly,” Rao said, comparing India’s sports ecosystem to a four-wheel vehicle that needs athletes, coaches, federations and the government moving together.
Building From the Grassroots
Minister of State Raksha Khadse urged federations to align with the Khelo India Mission and ensure state and district bodies are functioning. “Identifying talent is only one part of the process; athletes must also receive the correct training and support to reach their potential,” she said.
The meeting also saw presentations by Khelo India Joint Secretary Vineel Krishna and TOPS CEO Col. N.S. Johal, and the launch of revised guidelines for Assistance to National Sports Federations.
The Bottom Line
India has the stars; now it needs the depth. With home Commonwealth Games and Doha 2030 ahead, the challenge is to turn one Mirabai into ten.
With inputs from IANS.