New Delhi : India’s 503-member contingent for the Asian Games 2026 received a grand send-off in New Delhi on Tuesday in the presence of Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.
Dr. Mandaviya, along with Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Dr. 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.
Addressing the athletes, Dr. Mandaviya urged them to turn pressure into performance, view opponents as opportunities and convert those opportunities into achievements.
“I have complete faith that our contingent will perform well at the Asian Games and increase the pride of the country,” he said.
Expressing confidence in India’s performance, the Sports Minister said success in sport is not only a matter of individual pride but also a source of pride for the nation.
“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,” Dr. Mandaviya said.
Highlighting the emergence of young talent in Indian sport, he noted that more than 300 athletes in the 503-member contingent are first-time participants, reflecting the country’s growing talent pool and bench strength.
Dr. Mandaviya also highlighted India’s improved performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, saying the government had ensured transparent and merit-based selection 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,” he said.
Speaking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for Indian sports, Dr. Mandaviya said the government was creating new opportunities for athletes to compete and excel on the global stage.
“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.
IOA President Dr. P.T. Usha said the sporting journey was measured not only by medals but also by the dreams and aspirations of athletes.
“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,” she said.
Dr. Usha also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports for their continued support to Indian athletes.
The Asian Games 2026 will be held in Japan, where the Indian contingent will compete across multiple sporting disciplines. With more than 300 first-time athletes, the contingent reflects the growing depth and strength of Indian sport.