Stop Relying on a Few: Mandaviya Demands 'Pipeline of Champions' for India
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya urges NSFs to build a continuous pipeline of champions to boost India's medal tally in future games.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has sent a clear message to National Sports Federations (NSFs): India can no longer afford to depend on a small group of star athletes to secure its glory on the global stage. Speaking at a high-level review meeting on Thursday, the Minister called for the creation of a sustainable pipeline of champions to ensure consistent performance across multiple sporting cycles.
The meeting served as a critical post-mortem of India's 4th-place finish at the 2026 Asian Games and a strategic roadmap for upcoming milestones, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the 2030 Commonwealth Games, and the 2030 Asian Games in Doha.
Beyond the Individual Stars
During the conclave, Minister Mandaviya highlighted the danger of relying on isolated success stories. Using a poignant example, he questioned the sustainability of the current model, asking, "How long will Mirabai Chanu alone keep winning medals for us?"
He emphasized that the goal should not be to find one champion, but to produce "10 more Mirabai Chanus." To achieve this, the Minister urged every federation to take ownership of the entire athlete lifecycle—from the initial identification of raw talent to providing world-class training and fostering an environment where athletes can ascend to the highest levels of competition.
Addressing the Mental Gap and Infrastructure
Recognizing that physical prowess alone isn't enough to win gold, Mandaviya stressed the integration of sports science and psychology. He called for an increase in:
- Sports Psychologists: To help athletes manage the immense pressure of international stages.
- Sports Science Experts: To optimize physical performance and recovery.
- High-Performance Mental Trainers: To prevent the loss of focus during critical moments of competition.
The Minister further urged NSFs to be honest about their administrative failings and performance gaps, calling for more frequent competitions and a more dedicated commitment to athlete preparation.
A Collaborative Ecosystem for Success
The conclave featured key presentations to align government schemes with federation goals. Vineel Krishna, Joint Secretary (Khelo India), discussed the convergence of the Khelo India Scheme with NSFs, while Col. N.S. Johal, CEO of TOPS, provided a detailed performance review of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and the trajectory for LA 2028.
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Khadse, reinforced this vision by urging federations to strengthen their grassroots presence. She insisted that state and district-level federations must be fully functional, noting that identifying talent is only the first step; the real challenge lies in the subsequent training and support required to reach full potential.
Ambitious Targets for 2030
The government has set its sights high for the end of the decade. Secretary (Sports) Hari Ranjan Rao outlined two major benchmarks for the nation:
- 2030 Asian Games (Doha): India aims to break into the top three.
- 2030 Commonwealth Games: As the host nation, India is challenged to surpass its 2010 record and finish among the top three.
Rao described the Indian sporting ecosystem as a "four-tyre vehicle," explaining that progress is only possible if all four components—the athletes, the coaches, the NSFs, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (along with SAI)—work in perfect synchronization.
The event also marked the inauguration of the revised Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) guidelines booklet, providing a new framework for how federations will be supported moving forward.