Sports ministry calls emergency review after mixed Asian Games show

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has scheduled a comprehensive review meeting next week to address the underwhelming performance of the Indian contingent at the recently concluded Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will chair the day-long session, which is expected to bring together representatives from various national sports federations.

India wrapped up its continental campaign with 85 medals, comprising 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze. While the country retained its fourth-place standing on the overall medal table, the total tally dropped by 21 medals compared to the previous edition in Hangzhou, alongside a notable decline in gold count. Ministry officials have indicated that several disciplines failed to meet performance benchmarks despite substantial financial backing.

Internal assessments conducted by the ministry highlighted that 89 experienced athletes across 23 sporting disciplines returned empty-handed. Particular scrutiny is set to fall on disciplines like shooting, badminton, and sections of athletics, where results fell short of expectations. Officials noted a significant gap between expenditure and outcomes, specifically pointing to 34 elite athletes across nine disciplines who absorbed approximately ₹27.16 crore under government funding schemes without securing a podium finish.

Questions have also been raised regarding the efficiency and structure of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, with sources suggesting that funding models require closer alignment with competitive returns. Furthermore, the ministry intends to examine sudden injury withdrawals reported by athletes after arriving at the host nation, which impacted medal prospects in key events.

Despite the disappointing returns from several senior competitors, ministry insiders acknowledged that debutants and younger athletes salvaged India's standing during the final days of the competition. The upcoming meeting will examine accountability across federations and evaluate whether financial allocations require structural modifications ahead of future international cycles.

The review session is slated for October 13 or 14 in New Delhi, where federation heads will be asked to present detailed explanations for the shortfalls.