India's Asian Games flop sparks sports review

Why is the Sports Ministry unhappy?

India's gold medals halved from 42 at Hangzhou 2022 to 21 at Aichi-Nagoya, and the total dropped by 21. The ministry's internal assessment found 89 experienced athletes across 23 disciplines returned medal-less, despite about ₹27.16 crore spent on 34 of them, mainly in shooting and badminton. Ministries say the problem isn't spending but no accountability for it.

Is this criticism fair?

The criticism is fair in the sense that the numbers back it up: India won 21 gold medals this time, half of the 42 from the previous Asian Games. The ministry also counted 89 experienced athletes in 23 disciplines who returned empty-handed. That gap between investment and result is what the review will examine.

Why does funding fail to produce medals?

In shooting, the 2026 World Cups (the sport's top international rifle and pistol competitions) show rifle events winning just one bronze in five events, despite India being second-best rifle nation after China.

Can young athletes repeat their success?

In archery, India dethroned South Korea in 2022, but South Korea (the long-dominant archery powerhouse) has invested heavily since.

What are the future plans?

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a day-long review next week, questioning both federations and athletes. The ministry says the problem isn't spending but a lack of accountability, especially under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, which funds elite athletes. The scheme's structure may also be reviewed, though no changes have been decided yet.

Will this review change anything?

Not necessarily. The review may reshape TOPS, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme that funds athletes, but nobody has said how. The ministry's internal assessment found a gap between the roughly ₹27.16 crore spent and results, citing no accountability. The review is the first formal step, but whether it works is unknown yet.