India sports ministry reviews Asian Games performance

The Indian sports ministry has convened a review meeting with National Sports Federations to assess India’s performance at the recent Asian Games. The assessment aims to investigate why several elite athletes, including those supported by the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), failed to secure medals.

Reports indicate that the ministry is scrutinizing the outcomes of significant investments, noting that approximately Rs 27.16 crore was spent on 34 elite athletes across nine disciplines who performed below their expected levels. Additionally, around 89 experienced athletes from 23 disciplines returned without medals. The ministry also noted a failure to defend 20 gold medals won in the previous edition of the Games, specifically in sports such as squash, athletics, and badminton.

While the review may lead to a redistribution of funding toward higher-performing sports, observers suggest the process should focus on identifying systemic gaps in training and preparation rather than merely penalizing underperformance.