Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday reviewed India’s preparations for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games and assured that the government will provide comprehensive support to athletes aiming to improve the country’s medal performance.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the headquarters of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the minister assessed the readiness of Indian athletes and support systems ahead of the Games scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya from September 19 to October 4.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, SAI and other stakeholders briefed the minister on the strategic preparations underway to ensure that Indian athletes receive the best possible training, logistical support and sports science assistance.
India is expected to field more than 700 athletes across over 40 sports disciplines at the continental sporting event. The government has set a target to surpass the historic 106 medals won by the Indian contingent at the 2022 Asian Games.
Speaking during the meeting, Mandaviya reiterated that athletes remain the government’s top priority. He said every possible support—from training facilities and sports science to logistics, equipment, nutrition and medical care—will be provided so that athletes can focus fully on delivering their best performances.
A 15-member review committee formed to oversee preparations has already held four meetings since December 2025. The committee includes P. T. Usha, Asian Games Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav and Deputy Chef de Mission Sharath Kamal, among others.
The Ministry highlighted that the Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games will follow a unique five-cluster competition model, with events taking place across multiple prefectures including Aichi Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture. The format requires detailed logistical planning as athletes will compete and stay across different locations rather than a single Olympic-style village.
To help athletes prepare for the accommodation conditions expected during the Games, the Sports Authority of India will install makeshift container-style housing units at its regional centres in Patiala and Bengaluru. The initiative aims to familiarise athletes with the living arrangements and minimise disruptions during competition.
The meeting also reviewed the findings of a four-day reconnaissance visit conducted by an Indian Olympic Association delegation to Japan earlier this year. Based on the visit, officials are implementing cluster-wise planning with dedicated logistics officers, medical teams and support staff for each competition zone.
Several athlete-focused measures are being implemented ahead of the Games, including the appointment of a chief medical officer for the contingent, early finalisation of teams, discipline-wise performance reviews and advance distribution of official kits. Arrangements are also being made to provide Indian food options for athletes with the support of SAI culinary teams.
Federations have been given flexibility to plan international exposure tours and competition schedules, while special attention is being paid to acclimatisation and environmental adaptation ahead of the Games.
The next review meeting is scheduled for March 20, when final discussions on contingent size, travel arrangements and overall operational readiness will take place as India moves into the final phase of preparations for the 2026 Asian Games.
