Mansukh Mandaviya writes: The last 11 years have seen a transformation in sporting infrastructure
Recently, Indian athletes once again made the nation beam with pride through extraordinary performances on the global stage. At the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, the Indian contingent delivered a commanding performance, clinching 24 medals and smashing multiple national records along the way. Our women wrestlers scripted a golden chapter in history, returning from the Ulaanbaatar Open in Mongolia with a record-breaking 21 medals, their best-ever haul at a Ranking Series event. This success didn't come overnight. India won only 26 Olympic medals in the first 23 editions (including before Independence). But in the last three editions alone — 2016, 2020 and 2024 — India bagged 15 medals. In the Paralympics, from just eight medals between 1968 and 2012, India has now won 52 medals in the last three editions, including a record 29 medals in Paris 2024.
These achievements are the result of a performance-driven ecosystem built over the last 11 years. PM Modi has brought a clear and focused vision that every athlete, regardless of background, deserves access to world-class training, infrastructure, financial support, athlete-centric governance, and a transparent system to thrive.
At the heart of these reforms is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014 to identify and support top athletes. What began with 75 athletes has now grown to support 213 sportspersons for the Los Angeles 2028 cycle, including 52 para-athletes and 112 athletes under the development category. New schemes have also been introduced to support athletes in disciplines that have traditionally received less attention. The Target Asian Games Group (TAGG), introduced this year, supports 40 medal prospects in 10 disciplines such as fencing, cycling, equestrian, sailing, kayaking and canoeing, judo, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, and wushu.
Driving this performance is a significant financial commitment. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports budget has more than tripled in the last decade, from Rs 1,219 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 3,794 crore in 2025-26. The Khelo India Scheme, launched in 2017 to develop grassroots infrastructure and promote year-round competition, has seen its budget increase to Rs 1,000 crore this year. National sports federations have also received unprecedented support. Financial assistance for hosting international tournaments and national championships has nearly doubled. Coaches' support has been revised upward by 50 per cent. Athlete dietary allowances have been increased to meet the demands of high-performance training.
One of the most impactful reforms has been the emphasis on transparency. All federations must video record selection trials and publish selection criteria for major events two years in advance. This ensures fairness, builds trust among athletes, and keeps the system merit-based. Sports certificates are now issued through DigiLocker and linked to the National Sports Repository System, ensuring tamper-proof documentation. The Draft National Sports Policy 2024, along with the Draft National Sports Governance Bill, aim to strengthen the sports ecosystem and bring athlete welfare to the centre of policy making. Age fraud is being tackled through new medical checks and stricter penalties. Federations are also required to appoint Integrity Officers to ensure compliance.
In addition to Olympic sports, traditional Indian sports like mallakhamb, kalaripayattu, yogasana, gatka and thang-ta are being revived and promoted through the Khelo India Games. Indigenous sports like Kabaddi and Kho-Kho are now receiving international recognition.
The push for gender equity has also been significant. The ASMITA League (Achieving Sports Milestones by Inspiring Women Through Action), launched to promote women's participation in sports, has expanded rapidly: From just 840 women athletes in 2021-22, over 60,000 women across 26 sports participated in 2024–25. The ASMITA League connects these athletes to the Khelo India pathway.
India's sports infrastructure has also expanded at an unprecedented scale in the last 11 years. From just 38 infrastructure projects before 2014, the number has now risen to 350. The Sports Authority of India currently runs 23 national centres of excellence, training elite athletes under TOPS and Khelo India. Additionally, 34 state centres of excellence have been established.
The Khelo India Games have evolved into a national movement. Nineteen editions have been held so far —including Youth, University, Para, Winter, and Beach Games — with more than 56,000 athletes participating. The Khelo India Para Games, in particular, have been game-changing, with many athletes from these competitions going on to win medals at the Paralympics.
Looking ahead, India is preparing for a potential bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympic Games. To support this vision, new verticals under Khelo India such as the School Games, Tribal Games, Northeast Games, Water Games, Martial Arts Games, and Swadeshi Games are being launched. The upcoming Khelo India School Games will play a pivotal role in bringing fresh talent into the sporting ecosystem.
PM Modi's vision is for India to be among the top 10 sporting nations when we host the Olympics in 2036 and among the top five by the time we mark 100 years of Independence in 2047. Much has been done to fulfil this vision, but a lot remains to be achieved.
India's sporting revolution today is a story of vision, resolve, and inclusive growth. With our youth at the heart of this transformation, and under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi, India is rising as a global sporting powerhouse. From medals to mindsets, the change is visible and the journey to Viksit Bharat is being powered by the spirit of sport.
The writer is Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour and Employment
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