Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has pledged comprehensive support to boost sporting talent and infrastructure in Mizoram, addressing key challenges faced by athletes, especially boxers, and aligning with India’s 2036 Olympic bid aspirations.

Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has vowed support to promote sporting talents in Mizoram and address infrastructure-related issues faced by athletes, particularly boxers, a statement issued by the state unit of the BJP said on Wednesday.

Mandaviya gave the assurance during a meeting with the state BJP’s youth wing president Robinson Malsawmtluanga Hmar and vice president H Malsawmtluanga in New Delhi on Tuesday, it said.

Boosting Sports Infrastructure In Mizoram

Hmar urged the Union minister to provide greater support and opportunities for Mizo youth in sports and help improve facilities to enable more athletes from the state to compete at national and international levels, the statement said.

Hmar told Mandaviya that Mizoram has considerable sporting talent and highlighted the need for modern sports infrastructure in the state in the run-up to India’s proposed bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.

Hmar sought central assistance for strengthening boxing facilities in the state, including construction of a large and modern boxing hall.

He also apprised Mandaviya of various problems faced by the Mizoram Boxing Association.

Centre’s Commitment To Northeast Sports

Mandaviya assured the BJP leaders that all possible assistance would be extended to promote sports in Mizoram and support young sportspersons from the state, the statement said.

The Union minister said that he would ask the Boxing Federation of India to take prompt steps to address the difficulties faced by the Mizoram Boxing Association, it said.

Mandaviya said he was aware of the sporting talent among Mizo youth and asserted that the Centre was committed to supporting young people in the Northeast, particularly Mizoram.

He also urged Hmar to approach the Centre whenever sportspersons from the state faced difficulties or required assistance, assuring that opportunities would remain open for Mizoram’s youth in sports, the statement added.

• India is confident of crossing the 100-medal mark at the Asian Games.
• Sahdev Yadav backs Mirabai Chanu to end India’s 28-year weightlifting medal wait.
• He believes Indian athletes need greater support from fans, media and sponsors.

In an exclusive conversation with RevSportz Editor-in-Chief Boria Majumdar, Dr Sahdev Yadav, the Chef de Mission of India’s contingent for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, President of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) and South Asian Weightlifting Federation (SAWF), and Treasurer of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), spoke about India’s preparations for the Asian Games, the target of crossing 100 medals, Mirabai Chanu’s medal prospects, the growing depth across sports, doping and the support needed for Indian athletes.

Boria: India won 100 medals at the last Asian Games. As Chef de Mission, do you expect the contingent to cross that mark in Aichi-Nagoya?

Sahdev: I have full hope from my team that we will go beyond 100 medals. Whether it is 105, 110 or more, we will definitely cross 100. Performance-wise too, we will be better than before. Our parameters are very good and our athletes are participating in all the events. The team has been selected after a lot of thought by SAI, IOA and the federations, so I have full hope that we will be very successful.

Boria: Let’s start with weightlifting. Only one medal is missing in Indian weightlifting and that is an Asian Games medal. Can Mirabai Chanu finally end that wait?

Sahadev: It has been almost 26-27 years since India won an Asian Games medal in weightlifting. An Asian Games medal is now above an Olympic medal for us. Now you will ask me why it is above the Olympics. Because in all the Asian Games that have taken place before this, the country could send two players. This is the first time that only one player will come from a country in each category. So the Olympic medal was difficult because two people used to come. And now in the Asian Games we can only take one.

I hope that on the first day itself this year you will get the good news that Indian weightlifting has won a medal after 28 years.

Boria: How’s the preparation going? Is the medal coming around 200kg?

Sahadev: Mirabai is doing very well. In weightlifting, you cannot be certain about anything until the last moment because injuries can happen when you are pushing for maximum weights. But we are absolutely confident about her.

I went to see her training and I go there every day. She is doing absolutely fine. Her medical and other requirements are being taken care of so that there is no damage to her body.

The medal should come above 200kg. She has already lifted 205kg at the national championships in the 48kg category, and now she will be competing in the 49kg category here. With the benefit of that extra 1kg, we will take her forward safely. I am confident that you will get the medal.

Getting a medal in weightlifting is not easy. Almost all the strong weightlifting nations are from Asia, including China, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei. It is very tough for us, but we will overcome this hurdle and give you the result soon.

Boria: With cricket returning to the Asian Games, how do you see its impact as CDM on India’s medal prospects?

Sahadev: Cricket is very beneficial for us. Our gold medal tally can increase by two because of cricket. Our teams are doing very well, and this is also important from the Olympic perspective. It is very good for India and will increase our medal prospects.

Apart from cricket, Neeraj Chopra has been injured, but injuries are part of sport. Our other athletes are also very good. We have another group of javelin throwers going, along with several other talented athletes. In shot put and other athletics events, our medal tally can increase.

Boria: Hockey is also doing very well. Both our men’s and women’s teams are strong. The women’s team performed well at the recent World Cup and finished fifth. If they can beat China at the Asian Games, they can secure direct Olympic qualification.

Sahadev: Hockey is doing very well. Both of our teams are very good. Health is very important and everyone has to take care of themselves because there are new things coming up. Some athletes will be staying on the ship, and we don’t yet know how much movement there will be or whether it will affect their sleep and comfort.

The government has already prepared containers in Bengaluru and Patiala so that the athletes can get used to the conditions. Initially, they feel uncomfortable, but later they adjust. This is a very good step by the government and should give us positive results.

I will also be staying in a container. The Chef de Mission will have a hotel as an option too. If any athlete has difficulty sleeping or feels disturbed on the ship, we will arrange a hotel for them.

Boria: You saw several sports contribute medals at the Commonwealth Games. Do you expect a similar spread at the Asian Games?

Sahadev: Absolutely. You mentioned 25 medals from athletics, but I have even higher expectations from athletics. There are many big stars in shooting too, including Manu Bhaker and several other good athletes. Shooting can contribute more than 25 medals, and we can also increase our medal tally in boxing and wrestling.

Boria: I am expecting four medals from Esha Singh as she is in a great form this season.

Sahadev: I also expect four from her and I pray she stays healthy in the tournament.

Boria: Doping remains a major concern in Indian sport. How are you looking at the issue?

Sahadev: Doping is a very dangerous issue. Our children can be misled by it, so we conduct seminars and tell them in every meeting that they have to work hard to succeed in sport.

Doping may give temporary results, but it damages their health and can affect their future generations. We are trying to explain this to athletes, and the government is also doing a lot.

Our anti-doping agency, NADA, is conducting the testing itself. We are not giving any chance to foreign agencies in stopping this. We are carrying out maximum testing to stop doping.

That is why the graph may be going up right now. If we stop doping tomorrow, the graph will come down. The important thing is that we are testing more and creating fear among those who are involved in doping.

Boria: Earlier, there was a disconnect between the ministry, IOA and federations. Do you feel the coordination is better now? We have to work together, including the media.

Sahadev: There is nothing without the media because the media tells the people of India what is happening and how our athletes are performing.

The government has given a lot of support. The central government, sports ministry and SAI are supporting us, and the coordination is very good. There is no shortage of anything. If a top athlete genuinely needs something, they will get it.

For example, the weightlifting equipment in Japan is from an Osaka company. This particular equipment was last seen in Delhi in 2010 and I had not seen it in any other country since then. Mirabai wanted that Osaka set because of the movement of the rod and bearing. TOPS immediately imported the set for her. The government fulfilled what she asked for. What can be more important than that?

Boria: Sport is increasingly being seen as India’s soft power. How important is that for Indian sport?

Sahadev: The government is doing everything for the athletes. If a federation is working honestly and gives the genuine requirements of an athlete, I don’t think there should be any problem. The demand should be genuine, and no genuine requirement has been stopped.

No sport, participation or exposure is being stopped. Our minister himself takes a stand on this and is concerned that athletes should get exposure. This is a very big thing for Indian sport.

Boria: Cricket dominates India’s sporting conversation. What is your message to the media and fans about other sports?

Sahadev: Our athletes need support from the country, the fans and the media. Whether we win or lose, we need that support.

My message to the athletes, technical officials and coaches is simple: the athletes should give their maximum. Winning a medal is a different thing. If they perform to their maximum here, they can win more than 100 medals.

Don’t look at what someone else is doing. If you keep looking at others, you can fail. Do your maximum and you will succeed.

Cricket is famous because everyone watches it and because it has sponsors. Cricket has built that popularity itself. Other sports have to do the same. We have to think about how to get sponsors, connect with the public and connect with the media.

We should not keep saying cricket, cricket, cricket. Every sport has to move forward in its own way. The government can provide equipment and support, and it is doing that. We should watch cricket and play other sports too.

Boria: I assure you, the media, you know there were a lot of people in Glasgow. There were a lot of people from my team. They will be here too. There will be a lot of support from our side. I promise you on the show that we will do it together.

(Transcribed by Amrin Siddique.)

The Commonwealth Games Association (India) on Friday welcomed the visit of a high-level delegation from Commonwealth Sport (CS), led by its President Dr Donald Rukare, along with CEO Katie Sadleir and Director of Games & Assurance Darren Hall, as part of ongoing engagements around preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games to be held in Ahmedabad.

The Commonwealth Sport delegation said it was impressed with the “scale of planning, quality of venues, and the strong support from national and state authorities” in India for the CWG 2030.

“We are very impressed by the scale of planning, quality of venues, and the strong support from national and state authorities in India. Ahmedabad’s vision for the 2030 Commonwealth Games is both ambitious and forward-looking. The centenary presents a unique moment to celebrate the Games’ rich history while reimagining how they are delivered for the next 100 years.

“Our discussions this week have reinforced our confidence in India’s capability to deliver a truly landmark edition in 2030,” Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport, said.

The delegation undertook a comprehensive multi-city visit from April 8 to 10, reviewing key venues and infrastructure across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara and Ekta Nagar. The visit included inspections of competition venues such as Mahatma Mandir, Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Narendra Modi Stadium and IIT Gandhinagar, among others, as well as meetings with senior Government of Gujarat officials and city authorities.

In addition to venue assessments, the delegation held discussions with senior Indian sports leadership, including engagements with the Commonwealth Games Association (India), the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and other stakeholders to review progress, governance frameworks and delivery plans for the Games.

The visit follows continued dialogue between Commonwealth Sport and Indian stakeholders on strengthening the vision for a landmark centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030.

PT Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association and the Commonwealth Games Association (India), said, “India is honoured to host the Commonwealth Sport delegation and showcase the significant progress made towards delivering a world-class Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad in 2030.

“The visit reflects our shared commitment to excellence, collaboration and innovation in sport. We are confident that, together with Commonwealth Sport and all stakeholders, we will deliver a truly historic and athlete-centric Games that inspires the Commonwealth.”

ANI

“You need coaches on the ground and they should have the knowledge. I feel coaches need practical and theoretical knowledge about the weapons, biomechanics, and the psychology of the players because, at the end of the day, you are dealing with firearms.”

Identifying Future Olympic Athletes

He also stressed the need to scout and identify athletes capable of winning medals for India at the 2036 Olympics.

“Then comes the identification of athletes. Now, how does one identify a young talent… where is that athlete? He must be in school, studying in class 6th or 7th, and should be ready in 10 years (for the Olympics). He is the one who will win the medal for the country. So, how to identify that athlete? A lot is required for all that.”

“If we want to see India become a world leader in sports by 2047, with sports as a core pillar of Viksit Bharat 2047, a lot needs to be done at the grassroots. Only then can we think about winning 30-40 medals at the Olympics.”

Focus on Medal-Rich Sports and Gold

The Arjuna Awardee shooter stressed the need to focus on sports that offer more medal opportunities.

“We need to focus on sports that can offer more medals. Now, when you talk about shooting, don’t forget that the sport has 15 medals. When you talk about cycling, it has 22 Olympic medals. When you talk about wrestling, there are 18 medals, and boxing has 13 medals, and so on.”

“So, if you total all these, it will be about 80 medals in 4-5 sports… in hockey we have two medals. We need to identify the sports which can yield more medals.”

“We need to see the overall picture and identify which sport can yield more medals. And then work towards it,” he said.

He cited the example of the 2012 London Olympics, where England’s focus on cycling at the home Games paid rich dividends.

“Look at England, it’s a prime example. They focused on cycling before the London Olympics and they did so well.”

Sodhi also emphasised the importance of winning gold rather than focusing solely on the overall medal tally.

“When I won two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games, people actually sympathised with me. And some of them came and told me, ‘Better luck next time’. (We should focus on gold) because the nation’s ranking goes up. There is only one winner.”

Rediff news

India aims for top ten Olympic finish in 2036 and top five in 2048. The Khelo India Revamped Scheme has a budget of Rs 36,441 crores. This plan focuses on talent identification and sports infrastructure development. Athletes will receive increased support and training opportunities across the nation. Maharashtra will strengthen its sporting ecosystem to nurture emerging talent.

Mumbai: With a higher budget allocation of an overall Rs 36,441 crores for years 2026-2031 under the Khelo India Revamped Scheme, the union government has set target of finishing in the top 10 in the 2036 Olympics as well as a top five finish in the 2048 Olympics.

With the country aiming to host the 2036 Olympics and the 2048 Games being held around the completion of 100 years of India’s independence, the medal targets have also been revised.

Keeping the focus on scientific talent identification, sports infrastructure, coaching, sports science and technology, the aim would be to achieve 12-14 gold medals and an overall 30-35 total medals in 2036, as well as 35-40 gold medals and an overall 90-100 medals in 2048, the officials from Sports Authority of India Regional Centre Mumbai said in a press conference here on Tuesday.

The Economic Times

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) CEO Raghuram Iyer has announced an ambitious nationwide talent hunt, targeting children aged 5 to 15, to identify and nurture future athletes as India sets its sights on winning 30-40 medals at the 2036 Olympics.

With the country’s ambitious target of winning 30-40 medals at the 2036 Olympics putting the spotlight on the need for a robust talent pipeline, Indian Olympic Association CEO Raghuram Iyer on Wednesday said a massive nationwide hunt will be undertaken to identify and nurture athletes from a young age.

Addressing Talent Gaps for 2036

Former Asian Games gold medallist Ronjan Sodhi recently sounded a note of caution, saying India was running short of time to identify potential medallists for the 2036 Games and needed to urgently address gaps in infrastructure, facilities and talent scouting.

“Absolutely, I think he (Ronjan Sodhi) is right. There will be a massive talent hunt across all districts of India, targeting the 5 to 15 years age category, because those are the people who will be competing in 2036. That process has already begun,” Iyer told PTI here on Wednesday.

“The Sports Authority of India is actively working on this (formulating the plans) along with the National Sports Federations (NSFs). IOA will ensure the NSFs have the necessary support. There are various other aspects of developing an athlete, which is where the IOA’s role comes into play,” he added.

Pressure and Privilege of Olympic Ambition

The IOA CEO, however, admitted that targeting 30 to 40 medals at the 2036 Olympics, for which India is preparing to bid, has placed tremendous pressure on the apex body of Indian sport.

“I think pressure has increased, definitely, but pressure is a privilege. I think we’re all in a privileged position to have this pressure, and that pressure comes from India’s massive aspiration. We’re all fortunate to be living in this time when the entire sporting ecosystem is supported by the honourable PM and the honourable sports minister,” he said.

He also pointed out that both the public and private sectors have come together to significantly support sports, particularly with the Olympics in mind.

“You would have just seen the capital inflow coming into sport, whether from the government or the private sector, has increased tremendously. Overall, there is a sense of positivity regarding the sports industry. As for the pressure you mention, as long as the ecosystem is there, and everyone views this positively, I think it’s a great place to be,” he noted.

Looking Beyond Commonwealth Success

Praising India’s performance at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, which concluded earlier this month, Iyer said the showing gave the country reason to be optimistic and aspire for bigger achievements in future multi-sport events.

“It’s been a heartening performance in boxing, weightlifting, athletics, para sports, judo etc. But right now we are not going to just sit on these laurels and we are really aspiring for much more in the years to come. Commonwealth happened last month, next month are the Asian Games, so our eyes are already set on that.

“We’ve celebrated the Commonwealth success, and right now it is time to look ahead. The Asian Games are coming up, then there is the Youth Olympics in November, and then, of course, the big one, which is the LA-28 (Los Angeles Olympics in 2028), so we’re all in preparation for that.”

Iyer, who has served as CEO of multiple IPL teams, said he was happy to see cricket included in the Asian Games and hoped India would win the gold medal.

“India is a firm favourite to win gold at the Asian Games and the Olympics, everywhere. Overall, I think I’m happy not only about cricket being a part of it but also about all the other sports picking up, and India punching above its weight in some of those other sports. That is what is really delightful.”

Rediff News

Saudi Arabia has unveiled a seven-part strategy for sports clubs targeting higher commercial revenues, greater fan engagement, stronger governance and improved digital services during the 2026-2027 sports season.

The latest Sport Clubs Support Strategy introduces a new initiative designed to help clubs increase self-generated revenues and develop their business models, while continuing programmes covering direct support, facilities and digital transformation.

The Ministry of Sport has launched the latest edition of its Sport Clubs Support Strategy, marking the programme’s eighth year.

The strategy uses an enhanced funding and incentive model designed to promote institutional performance and financial and administrative sustainability while encouraging clubs to achieve excellence and competitiveness.

For the 2026-2027 season, the strategy is built around seven initiatives:

Direct support
Various sports
Governance
Fan attendance
Facility development
Digital transformation
Increasing commercial revenues
Saudi sports clubs target higher commercial revenues
The initiatives form an integrated, performance-based support system intended to develop clubs, improve operational efficiency and service quality, diversify revenue sources and promote sustainability across the sports sector.

The biggest new element in the 2026-2027 strategy is the initiative to increase commercial revenues.

The Ministry of Sport identified it as a newly introduced track for this year.

The initiative aims to enable clubs to increase their self-generated revenues, strengthen investments and develop their business models.

The objective is to improve financial sustainability while creating long-term economic value.

It adds a new commercial component to a strategy that already covers areas including direct support, governance, infrastructure and digital transformation.

Saudi Arabia targets bigger sports fan bases
Increasing and engaging fan audiences is another element of the strategy.

The fan attendance initiative seeks to increase the number of fans while improving their experience and engagement.

It also aims to convert fans into long-term members, strengthening loyalty and affiliation with sports clubs.

The initiative therefore goes beyond attendance alone, with the strategy targeting longer-term relationships between clubs and their supporters.

Direct support remains one of the seven initiatives for the 2026-2027 season.

Direct financial support to continue
The strategy will continue to develop its direct support and various sports initiatives.

These are intended to improve spending efficiency and encourage sporting excellence.

The Ministry’s wider funding and incentive model is performance-based and designed to contribute to club development and greater financial and administrative sustainability.

The source does not specify the amount of direct financial support available to clubs for the new season.

Governance remains one of the strategy’s key pillars.

The initiative focuses on developing evaluation standards and performance indicators for sports clubs.

It also seeks to strengthen compliance with rules and regulations while promoting transparency and accountability.

Improving administrative and financial governance is another objective.

Together, the measures are intended to strengthen the institutional performance of Saudi sports clubs.

Saudi sports clubs continue digital transformation
Digital transformation will continue under the 2026-2027 strategy.

The initiative is intended to improve clubs’ digital services and standardise operational platforms.

The Ministry said this would contribute to an improved club experience and greater institutional efficiency.

Digital transformation sits alongside facility development, which will also continue during the new season.

Sports club facilities targeted for development
Facility development remains one of the strategy’s seven initiatives.

The programme will continue to focus on enhancing clubs’ infrastructure as part of the wider effort to improve their operational capabilities.

Together, the facility and digital initiatives are intended to improve infrastructure, services and operational platforms.

The strategy forms part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to build a more efficient, sustainable and competitive sports ecosystem.

It is also intended to improve clubs’ readiness, support their growth and further strengthen the standing of Saudi sports.

Arabian Business

A senior cricket official in Calcutta was asked around December 2010 how difficult the road ahead would be, as Bengal was set for a change from the Left Front rule to the Trinamool Congress reign. “There was a comfort zone, but we all will learn to deal with TMC,” he had said.

Now, as Bengal turned saffron from Monday, sports officials across the state are gearing up to recalibrate after 15 years. “Sports did not get affected even when governments changed. From Subhas Chakraborty (CPIM) to Madan Mitra to Aroop Biswas, every sports minister has been on good terms with the officials and players. I am hopeful the new government will do the same,” senior East Bengal official Debabrata Sarkar said.

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