New Delhi, September 9 (TNA) The Indian contingent for the Asian Games 2026 received a grand send-off in New Delhi yesterday in the presence of Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya. Mandaviya, along with Indian Olympic Association President P T Usha, Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, and Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav, unveiled the official jersey of the Indian contingent in the presence of athletes and support staff.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Mandaviya urged Indian athletes to turn pressure into performance, view opponents as opportunities and transform those opportunities into achievements. Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for Indian sports, he said the Government has created new pathways for athletes to compete and excel at the global level.
The minister also highlighted the growing depth of Indian sport and the emergence of young talent. He said that out of the 503-member contingent, more than three hundred athletes are first-time participants at the Asian Games. Applauding India’s performance at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, the Union Minister said that at the last Commonwealth Games, India won 13 gold medals and this time the tally has improved by more than 35 per cent.
He said the target is to establish India on the world sporting stage by 2036, when the country aims to host the Olympic Games. He added that this ten-year plan includes an allocation of more than 36 thousand crore rupees for improving sports infrastructure.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports informed that the Asian Games 2026 will be held in Japan, where the Indian contingent will compete across multiple sporting disciplines. The 503-member contingent includes athletes and support staff, with more than three hundred athletes set to make their debut at the Asian Games, reflecting the growing depth and bench strength of Indian sport.