SportsPosted at: Oct 15 2026 7:11PM


We need 10 more Mirabai Chanus: Mandaviya tells sports federations

New Delhi, Oct 15 (UNI) union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday urged National Sports Federations (NSFs) to strengthen talent identification and athlete development, saying India needed a larger pool of champions to sustain its medal-winning momentum at major international events.
Addressing a review meeting on India’s performance at the 2026 Asian Games, Mandaviya said the country could not rely on a few athletes to deliver medals and called on federations to develop world-class performers across disciplines.
“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. We have to identify talent, provide the right training and create an environment in which athletes can progress to the highest level,” he said.
The meeting reviewed India’s fourth-place finish at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2030 Asian Games in Doha.
Mandaviya stressed the role of sports science, psychology and mental conditioning in elite performance. He also urged federations to organise more competitions and assess shortcomings in athlete preparation and administration.
Representatives of federations governing athletics, shooting, boxing, archery, squash and wushu attended the meeting.
Joint Secretary (Khelo India) Vineel Krishna outlined ways to improve coordination between the Khelo India scheme and the federations, while TOPS CEO Col. N.S. Johal reviewed India’s Asian Games performance and preparations for Los Angeles. The revised guidelines booklet for Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) was also launched.
Raksha Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, urged federations to align their programmes with the Khelo India Mission and ensure state and district-level bodies were functional.
“Every NSF must ensure that state and district-level federations are also in place and functioning effectively. This work has to be undertaken wholeheartedly, alongside talent identification. Identifying talent is only one part of the process; athletes must also receive the correct training and support to reach their potential,” she said.
“Only through a collective effort can we strengthen athlete preparation, create a better pathway for talent and increase India’s medal tally,” Khadse added.
Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao said India should target a top-three finish at the 2030 Asian Games in Doha and urged federations to prioritise the Commonwealth Games, which the country will host in 2030.
“We have to strive to finish third at the Asian Games in Doha. For the 2030 Commonwealth Games, we must break our own record from the 2010 Commonwealth Games and finish among the top three. Since we are hosting the Games, every NSF must take the competition seriously and prepare accordingly. We must treat this as a challenge and work towards it from now,” Rao said.
Rao earlier compared the sporting ecosystem to a four-wheel vehicle, saying progress depended on athletes, coaches, federations, the Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India working together.
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