Sports Ministry, Federations to review Asian Games performance on October 13: Sources

NEW DELHI: Officials of the Ministry Of Youth Affairs and Sports of India (MYAS) and the National Sports Federations (NSFs) will review India's performance at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on October 13. India had picked 85 medals at the continental games to finish fourth in the medal tally, a drop in 21 medals from the previous Games. "A review needs to be conducted. We need to change a lot of things. A lot of money has been spent on experienced athletes but they didn't medal," said a source within the Sports Ministry.

"Sports Federations (NSFs) to review in accordance with Sports Ministry on October 13," they added. The Ministry officials expressed disappointment with some of the veterans of the sport who didn't medal or were down the order of rankings. Even the release of funds through the government's flagship Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS) will be assessed. Individually, sports that have raised eyebrows include badminton (1 bronze) and shooting (15 medals). "Another issue was injuries. Players were declaring injuries after reaching the Games, how is that fair. Crores have been spent in preparing them," said the source. The Sports Ministry had allegedly spent over Rs 700 crore into preparing the athletes for the Games in a three-year cycle.