Union Sports Minister reviews preparations for 2026 Asian Games

Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed India’s preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya during a meeting at the Sports Authority of India headquarters. Officials discussed logistics, athlete welfare and planning as India targets a record medal tally

Hyderabad: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) headquarters to review India’s preparations for the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, SAI, and other stakeholders briefed Dr Mandaviya on the country’s readiness ahead of the event, ensuring that athletes receive every possible support to excel at the continental showpiece.

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A 15-member committee constituted for the Asian Games 2026 preparation review, which includes Shri Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, PT Usha, President, Indian Olympic Association, Sh Sahdev Yadav, Asian Games Chef de Mission, Sharath Kamal, Deputy Chef de Mission, and others, has already held four meetings since December 2025 to streamline planning across training, logistics, athlete welfare and competition readiness. The committee is overseeing the strategic roadmap for India’s campaign at the Games.

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya reaffirmed the government’s commitment to athlete welfare and performance. “Our athletes are our top priority. Every possible support, from training and sports science to logistics, kit support, food support and medical care, will be provided so that they can prepare without distractions and deliver their best at the Asian Games. Our aim is to ensure they remain focused on increasing our medal tally at the competition.”

The Union Minister also emphasised the need for coordinated efforts among all stakeholders, stating that structured preparation, strong support systems and timely planning would play a crucial role in helping India achieve new milestones at the 2026 Asian Games.

The nation’s target is to surpass the historic 106-medal haul achieved at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022, with strategic planning, dedicated preparation and unified coordination across all stakeholders. Over 700 Indian athletes are expected to compete across more than 40 sports disciplines at the 2026 Games.

During the meeting this morning, it was highlighted that the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games follows a unique five-cluster competition model, with athletes competing across multiple prefectures rather than staying in a single Olympic village-style accommodation. Venues are spread across clusters such as Aichi, Gifu, Shizuoka and the Airport-Expo zone, requiring detailed planning for travel, logistics, medical support and athlete recovery.

To help athletes adjust to the Games’ accommodation conditions, special makeshift container units will be installed at SAI regional centres in Patiala and Bengaluru, allowing athletes to familiarise themselves with the container-style living arrangements expected during the Games. Officials said the measure will help athletes adapt early and avoid distractions during competition.

The meeting also reviewed the four-day recce visit by an IOA delegation in January, which inspected key competition venues, athlete facilities and logistics infrastructure in Japan. Based on the findings, cluster-wise planning is being implemented with dedicated logistics officers, medical teams and support staff assigned to each cluster to ensure seamless operations for Indian athletes.