**Executive Summary**
A high-level meeting was convened on March 5, 2026, by the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports to review India's preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The meeting confirmed over 700 Indian athletes are expected to compete across 40+ sports disciplines, with a target to surpass the 106-medal haul from the previous games. The next committee meeting is scheduled for March 20 to finalize operational readiness.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **2026 Asian Games Preparations:**
* India is preparing for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
* Over 700 Indian athletes are expected to compete in more than 40 sports disciplines.
* The nation aims to surpass the historic 106-medal achievement from the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022.
* **Committee and Planning:**
* A 15-member committee has been reviewing preparations, holding four meetings since December 2025.
* The committee is streamlining planning for training, logistics, athlete welfare, and competition readiness.
* A strategic roadmap for India's campaign is being overseen.
* **Athlete Support and Welfare:**
* The government reaffirms commitment to athlete welfare and performance, prioritizing them.
* Comprehensive support will be provided, including training, sports science, logistics, kit, food, and medical care.
* Measures are in place to ensure athletes can prepare without distractions and focus on performance.
* **Operational and Logistical Arrangements:**
* Structured preparation, strong support systems, and timely planning are crucial for achieving new milestones.
* Nodal Officers have been designated by each NSF for the AG Technical Handbook to educate players, coaches, and staff on technical details.
* Teams will be finalized well in advance for adequate preparation time.
* Support staff capacity, including medical teams, is being strengthened.
* Seamless coordination with Indian embassies abroad is being ensured for logistical facilitation.
* Federations have the freedom to plan exposure tours and competition schedules in advance.
* For challenging disciplines, support will be organized across multiple locations with dedicated staff.
* Acclimatization aspects, including food and environmental conditions, are being addressed, with efforts to simulate competition environments in India.
* Special makeshift container units will be installed at SAI regional centers in Patiala and Bengaluru to help athletes adjust to accommodation conditions.
* A four-day recce visit by an IOA delegation in January inspected venues, facilities, and logistics in Japan.
* Cluster-wise planning is being implemented with dedicated logistics officers, medical teams, and support staff for each cluster due to the five-cluster competition model of the Games.
* **Athlete-Focused Measures:**
* A head medical doctor for the contingent will be appointed.
* Indian food options for athletes will be finalized.
* Official kits will be provided to athletes well in advance.
* Discipline-wise performance reviews, early team finalization, and capacity building of support staff (including medical and recovery teams) are being emphasized.
* **Upcoming Meeting:**
* The next committee meeting is scheduled for March 20 to discuss contingent size, logistics, travel arrangements, and operational readiness.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Indian Athletes**
* **Impact:** Athletes will benefit from enhanced support, improved preparation environments, and streamlined logistical arrangements, aiming for peak performance and success at the Asian Games. They will also have early access to official kits and familiarization with accommodation styles.
* **Action Required:** Athletes should utilize the provided support structures, engage with the technical details shared by Nodal Officers, and participate in acclimatization measures.
* **National Sports Federations (NSFs)**
* **Impact:** NSFs are empowered to plan exposure tours and competition schedules in advance and will have designated Nodal Officers responsible for technical details related to their respective disciplines.
* **Action Required:** NSFs must appoint Nodal Officers for the AG Technical Handbook, utilize the freedom to plan tours and schedules, and work with the committee on discipline-wise operational planning.
* **Sports Authority of India (SAI)**
* **Impact:** SAI will be instrumental in implementing measures such as setting up makeshift container units for accommodation familiarization and providing culinary support for athlete food options.
* **Action Required:** SAI needs to facilitate the installation of container units, provide culinary staff for finalizing food options, and support overall logistical and medical arrangements.
* **Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports & Indian Olympic Association (IOA)**
* **Impact:** These bodies will oversee the strategic roadmap, coordinate efforts among stakeholders, and manage overall preparations, including logistical facilitation and contingent management.
* **Action Required:** The Ministry and IOA will continue to drive the strategic planning, ensure coordination, conduct necessary reviews, and finalize key decisions regarding contingent size and operational readiness in upcoming meetings.
Key Entities Referenced
Asian Games 2026: The main event for which preparations are being reviewed.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, who chaired the meeting and reaffirmed government commitment.
Aichi-Nagoya, Japan: The location of the Asian Games 2026.
Sports Authority of India (SAI): The organization hosting the high-level meeting and involved in athlete support.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The ministry overseeing sports in India and involved in the preparations.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
Reviews Asian Games 2026 preparations;
assures full support for Indian Athletes
Over 700 Indian athletes are expected to compete across 40+
sports disciplines at the Aichi-Nagoya games
Posted On: 05 MAR 2026 1:29PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday chaired a high-level
meeting at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) headquarters to review India’s preparations for the 2026
Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4. Senior
officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, SAI, and other stakeholders briefed Dr.
Mandaviya on the country’s readiness ahead of the event, ensuring that athletes receive every possible
support to excel at the continental showpiece.
A 15-member committee constituted for Asian Games 2026 preparation review, which includes Shri Hari
Ranjan Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, PT Usha, President, Indian Olympic
Association, Sh. Sahdev Yadav, Asian Games Chef de Mission, Sharath Kamal, Deputy Chef de Mission,
and others, have already held four meetings since December 2025 to streamline planning across training,
logistics, athlete welfare and competition readiness. The committee is overseeing the strategic roadmap for
India’s campaign at the Games.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya reaffirmed the government’s commitment to
athlete welfare and performance. “Our athletes are our top priority. Every possible support, from training
and sports science to logistics, kit support, food support and medical care, will be provided so that they
can prepare without distractions and deliver their best at the Asian Games. Our aim is not to make them
suffer at any cost and ensure they remain focused in increasing our medal tally at the competition.”
The Union Minister also emphasised the need for coordinated efforts among all stakeholders, stating that
structured preparation, strong support systems and timely planning would play a crucial role in helping
India achieve new milestones at the 2026 Asian Games.
As part of the preparations, Nodal Officer has been designated for AG Technical Handbook by each NSF
to understand and educate respective NSF players, coaches and support staff regarding discipline-wise
technical detailing to ensure optimal performance at the games. Teams will be finalised well in advance to
allow athletes adequate time for focused preparation and efforts are also being made to strengthen the
capacity of support staff, including medical teams, while ensuring seamless coordination with Indian
embassies abroad for logistical facilitation. Federations have been given the freedom to plan exposure
tours and competition schedules in advance. For disciplines where operational planning is more
challenging, support will be organised across multiple locations with dedicated support staff deployed ateach venue. Special attention is also being paid to acclimatisation aspects such as food and environmental
conditions, with measures being explored to simulate competition environments in India ahead of the
Games.
The nation’s target is to surpass the historic 106-medal haul achieved at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022,
with strategic planning, dedicated preparation, and unified coordination across all stakeholders. Over 700
Indian athletes are expected to compete across 40+ sports discipline at the 2026 games.
During the meeting this morning, it was highlighted that the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games follows a unique
five-cluster competition model, with athletes competing across multiple prefectures rather than staying in
a single Olympic-village style accommodation. Venues are spread across clusters such as Aichi, Gifu,
Shizuoka and the Airport-Expo zone, requiring detailed planning for travel, logistics, medical support and
athlete recovery.
To help athletes adjust to the Games’ accommodation conditions, special makeshift container units will be
installed at SAI regional centres in Patiala and Bengaluru, allowing athletes to familiarise themselves with
the container-style living arrangements expected during the Games. Officials said the measure will help
athletes adapt early and avoid distractions during competition.
The meeting also reviewed the four-day recce visit by an IOA delegation in January, which inspected key
competition venues, athlete facilities and logistics infrastructure in Japan. Based on the findings, cluster-
wise planning is being implemented with dedicated logistics officers, medical teams and support staff
assigned to each cluster to ensure seamless operations for Indian athletes.
Several athlete-focused measures were discussed to ensure smooth preparation in the months leading up to
the Games. These include appointing a head medical doctor for the contingent, finalising Indian food
options for athletes with the help of designated SAI culinary staff, and ensuring athletes receive their
official kits well in advance. The importance of discipline-wise performance reviews, early team
finalisation and capacity building of support staff, including medical and recovery teams, were also
discussed.
The next committee meeting is scheduled for March 20, where final discussions on contingent size,
logistics, travel arrangements and operational readiness will be taken up as India moves into the decisive
phase of its preparations for the continental sporting spectacle.Reviewed India's preparations for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 today.
Directed officials to leave no stone unturned in supporting our athletes for the
Asian Games. pic.twitter.com/6eJnv7yMEf
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) March 5, 2026
*****
Ayushman Kumar
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