India's Sports Ministry grapples with coaching shortages and doping reforms

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the National Sports Federation Conclave 2026, where officials reviewed governance, athlete welfare and India's readiness for the Asian Games 2026, Los Angeles Olympics 2028 and Commonwealth Games 2030. He called for transparent selection trials, stronger anti‑doping mechanisms and a comprehensive strategy to eliminate doping across the sports ecosystem.

In the Rajya Sabha, the ministry faced intense questioning over a systemic coaching crisis. Data presented by Mandaviya showed 554 coaching posts vacant in the Sports Authority of India, including 464 unfilled assistant‑coach positions and 90 head‑coach roles. Critics said the shortfall undermines training for millions of athletes. The ministry also reported modest gains in anti‑doping efforts, with the National Anti‑Doping Agency increasing sample‑collection sessions from 20 in 2025 to 55 in 2026, but observers argue the measures remain insufficient for a nation of over 1.4 billion people.