Asian Games 2026 Sports Ministry Investment Crosses Rs 700 Crore
Asian Games 2026 Sports Ministry Investment Reaches Rs 702.86 Crore
The Sports Ministry has spent Rs 702.86 crore over the last three years to prepare Indian athletes for the Asian Games 2026, covering training, equipment, competition exposure and the hiring of coaches and experts. An additional Rs 97.84 crore has been provided through the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will begin on September 19 in Japan, with India sending 501 athletes across 36 disciplines, supported by 265 staff members. The final athlete count was reduced from the originally sanctioned 503 after two names were dropped following doping violations.
Asian Games 2026 Sports Ministry Investment Focuses on International Exposure
The largest share of the expenditure went towards giving athletes international competition experience. Around Rs 251.4 crore was spent on international exposure, while domestic training accounted for another Rs 118.3 crore. The investment is part of the Annual Competition and Training Calendar designed to provide athletes with sustained preparation ahead of major competitions.
TOPS CEO N S Johal said the Indian contingent has shown strong momentum across disciplines and that the presence of a large number of young athletes is an encouraging sign for the future.
Asian Games 2026 Sports Ministry Investment Supports Young Athletes
India’s contingent includes 310 event debutants, highlighting the emergence of a new generation of athletes. Among the youngsters attracting attention are paddler Syndrela Das, badminton player Ayush Shetty, 18-year-old squash player Anahat Singh and judoka Asmita Dey. Cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, aged 15, is also part of the Asian Games contingent, although he is not funded by the Sports Ministry.
Johal also revealed that 65 athletes in the contingent have come through the Khelo India system, reflecting the pathway from the grassroots programme to the senior international level.
Asian Games 2026 Sports Ministry Investment Includes Sports Science Support
The preparation has extended beyond competition and training. The ministry has also focused on strengthening the contingent’s sports-science support, including physiotherapists, doctors and mental-health experts.
Of the 265 authorised support staff, 56 are women, accounting for roughly 22 per cent. Around one-third of the support staff are from sports-science backgrounds, while every team has women’s support staff, according to Johal.
Asian Games 2026 Sports Ministry Investment Aims to Build on Hangzhou
India won a record 106 medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games, including 28 gold, 38 silver and 40 bronze. The Sports Ministry now wants the Aichi-Nagoya contingent to build on that performance, although Johal stressed that the final results will ultimately depend on the athletes.
With extensive spending on competition exposure, training, equipment and specialist support, India’s preparations have focused on creating a stronger environment for athletes. The Asian Games will now provide the first major test of that preparation when competition begins on September 19.
