The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced on 15 October 2026 that National Sports Federations (NSFs) must take more responsibility for India's sporting performance following a 4th place finish at the 2026 Asian Games. Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya stated that India needs a continuous pipeline of champions and more experts in sports psychology and science to sustain medal-winning ambitions. The ministry also inaugurated a revised Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) guidelines booklet. The release does not say when these guidelines take effect, but targets were set to finish among the top three at the 2030 Asian Games and 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Key points
- Goal: Finish among the top three at the 2030 Asian Games in Doha and 2030 Commonwealth Games
- Requirement: NSFs must ensure state and district-level federations are functioning effectively
- Need: Increase number of sports psychologists, science experts, and high-performance mental trainers
- Action: Inauguration of the revised Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) guidelines booklet
- Focus: Identify talent and provide correct training to move beyond relying on a few medal winners
When it applies
- NSFs conclave to review Asian Games 2026 performance
- Los Angeles Olympics
- Commonwealth Games
- Asian Games in Doha
Who it affects
- National Sports Federations