The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has given a major push to India’s karate ambitions ahead of the 2026 Asian Games by launching a 45-day senior national coaching camp, under its Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) scheme.
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The camp runs from 17 November to 31 December at the SAI Regional Centre in Lucknow and involves 64 people — 48 athletes, 12 coaches, and 4 support staff.
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SAI is funding the initiative with ₹1.42 crore under its Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs) scheme.
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The program ensures that the core group of 48 karatekas (24 men and 24 women) receive full access to training, sports science support, recovery services, and equipment — despite the ongoing de-recognition of the national karate federation.
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To provide administrative stability, SAI set up an Organising Committee for Karate earlier this year (July) to oversee athlete selection, coaching, and international exposure.
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Open national trials for senior athletes were held from 12–14 October at SAI’s Shillong centre. These trials were designed to adhere to global standards, including anti-doping rules and video-based evaluations.
With qualification standards for Nagoya 2026 tightening, this structured support from SAI could be a game changer for India’s karate ambitions.
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