The 503-member Indian contingent for the Asian Games 2026 received a grand send-off in New Delhi on Tuesday, with Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya urging athletes to turn pressure into performance and opportunities into achievements.
Mandaviya, along with Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P.T. Usha, Secretary (Sports) Hari Ranjan Rao and Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav, unveiled the official contingent jersey in the presence of athletes and support staff.
Expressing confidence in India’s performance at the Games, Mandaviya said, “I have complete faith that our contingent will perform well at the Asian Games and increase the pride of the country.”
He stressed that success in sport goes beyond individual achievement and contributes to national pride.
“Sports is a sector where success is not just a matter of pride for the athlete alone – the athlete’s success is the nation’s success. Today, our contingent of 503 members is going to the Asian Games, and I am confident that we will put up a good performance,” he said.
More than 300 athletes to make Asian Games debut
Highlighting the emergence of young talent in Indian sport, Mandaviya said more than 300 of the athletes in the contingent would be making their first appearance at the Asian Games.
“Of our 503 athletes, over 300 athletes are first-timers, so a lot of new talent is coming through,” he said, underlining the growing depth and bench strength of Indian sport.
The Minister also highlighted India’s improving performance at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow and said the government had ensured a transparent and merit-based selection process through open trials, independent observers and camera monitoring.
“At the last Commonwealth Games, India won 13 gold medals; this time, our tally has improved by more than 35 per cent. I wish all our athletes and support staff the very best,” Mandaviya said.
Focus on 2036 Olympics
Mandaviya said the government’s long-term vision was to establish India firmly among the world’s leading sporting nations ahead of the country’s target of hosting the 2036 Olympics.
“Our target is 2036 – by the time we host the Olympics, we need to be firmly established on the world stage by 2036. This is a 10-year plan, with more than Rs 36,000 crore allocated to improve sports infrastructure,” he said.
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for opening new pathways for Indian athletes to compete and excel at the international level.
PT Usha highlights responsibility of representing India
IOA President P.T. Usha said representing the country at the Asian Games was both a responsibility and a privilege.
“A sporting journey is measured not just by medals, but by dreams. We are travelling as representatives of India. It is both a responsibility and a privilege,” Usha said.
She also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for their continued support to Indian athletes.
The Asian Games 2026 will see the Indian contingent compete across multiple sporting disciplines in Japan. The 503-member contingent includes athletes and support staff, with more than 300 athletes set to make their first appearance at the Asian Games, underlining the growing depth and bench strength of Indian sport.
