New Delhi: The Union Sports Ministry has issued a strong warning to sports administrators and officials travelling with Indian contingents for upcoming international events, stating that those found treating tournaments as leisure trips could be recalled immediately.
The warning comes as India prepares for the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow and the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi Nagoya later this year.
According to senior officials associated with various National Sports Federations, the ministry has made it clear that every accredited official accompanying athletes must have a defined role and actively contribute towards improving athlete performance and welfare during the competitions.
Officials reportedly stated that individuals found roaming around without responsibility or failing to support athletes adequately would face immediate withdrawal from the contingent. The move is aimed at ensuring that athletes receive full logistical and administrative support during major international events.
Sports administrators in India have often faced criticism for allegedly remaining inaccessible to athletes during major tournaments despite occupying a significant share of contingent positions. Officials travelling with teams are expected to manage training schedules, accommodation, transport coordination, and other operational requirements.
India’s contingent for the Commonwealth Games is expected to be relatively smaller this year due to the reduced programme featuring only ten disciplines. However, the Asian Games contingent is likely to exceed 700 members as the event will feature 41 disciplines.
The ministry’s latest warning follows remarks made earlier this year by Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao during a conclave in Ahmedabad, where he cautioned National Sports Federation representatives against treating multi sport events as family outings.
The ministry has also reiterated its existing policy mandating videography of selection trials for major tournaments to ensure transparency in athlete selection. Officials stated that any selection related complaint would require proof that the trials were properly recorded, failing which the process could be treated as invalid.
During a recent review meeting with NSFs, Mansukh Mandaviya emphasised the need for all federations to adopt an athlete centric approach while preparing teams for international competitions.
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