India’s Olympic ambitions go beyond infrastructure—it is aiming for a higher medal tally too. In the lead-up to hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and the Olympics in 2036, the government is overhauling the country’s sports management system.
“We will soon be announcing the National Sports Policy. Additionally, we are working on a sports governance policy,” said a person aware of the developments.
Last year, the government released a draft policy focusing on areas like sports science, which are standard practice in developed nations. The new framework, sources indicate, aims to help India achieve athletic success in international competitions and make sports a viable career option for the youth.
Catch ’em young
The government is building a bottom-up framework to identify athletic talent in children aged 8 to 14 and train them in specialised centres.
“We are developing a block-level approach, scaling up to the district level, from where students can graduate to national centres,” the person noted.
The plan includes establishing district-level sports schools—similar to initiatives in a few states—which will integrate academic and athletic training.
The Khelo India programme, launched in FY18, was a key step toward grassroots talent identification. “We are also mapping skills across the country to determine which regions excel in particular sports,” the person added.
Focus on science
In addition to grassroots development, the government is looking to integrate science into sports training to ensure athlete longevity and peak performance.
“We are planning to use genetic mapping to gain valuable insights,” one official said.
Genetic testing can be used to assess athletic potential, optimise training regimens, and reduce injury risk. In 2017, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced genetic testing for cricketers.
Notably, cricket is set to return to the Olympics in 2028, expanding the government’s interest in scientific preparation.
To support this, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is implementing a hub-and-spoke model for promoting sports science research. In April, Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya announced the creation of the National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR).
“NCSSR will serve as a hub for high-level research, education, and innovation aimed at enhancing elite athlete performance… Let us all work together to build a strong sports culture for a new India,” the minister stated.
36 for 2036
India is aiming to significantly improve its Olympic medal tally by the time it plans to host the Games in 2036.
In the 2024 Olympics, India finished 71st in the medal tally, with one silver and five bronze medals. The country failed to secure a gold and fell one medal short of its 2020 Tokyo Games tally. Moneycontrol