Confident Indian athletes won't fear opponents at Asian Games: Sports Minister

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya urged India's 503-member Asian Games contingent to compete without fear and turn pressure into performance as the country looks to build on its record-breaking medal haul from Hangzhou 2023Mansukh Mandaviya hopes for India to reach even bigger highest at Asian Games 2026. (Image: PTI)Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday urged India's athletes to compete without fear and turn pressure into performance as the country prepares for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.Addressing the Indian contingent at a send-off ceremony organised by the Indian Olympic Association, Mandaviya said he was confident the country's athletes would continue India's upward trajectory at the continental event.A 503-member contingent is set to represent India at the upcoming Asian Games. Several athletes and teams attended the ceremony, although members of the hockey squads and some leading track-and-field athletes were absent as they had either already travelled to the Games venue or were in the final stages of their preparations.Mandaviya said India's recent progress at the Asian Games reflected the growth of the country's sporting ecosystem and called on athletes to build on the momentum generated in recent years. MEDAL GROWTH IN FOCUSThe Sports Minister pointed to India's sharp improvement between the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon and the 2023 edition in Hangzhou.India won 57 medals in Incheon before recording 107 medals in Hangzhou, marking a 53 per cent increase in the overall tally. The rise in gold medals was even greater, with Mandaviya noting a 75 per cent jump. "In 2014, we won 57 medals at the Asian Games in Incheon, but in the 2023 edition, we won 107 medals. An ecosystem was created for sports in the country. It was the result of dialogue at the federation and government levels. This continuous dialogue has brought about a change," Mandaviya said.He also highlighted India's success at the Asian Para Games, where the country won 111 medals in Hangzhou in 2023.While acknowledging the progress made, Mandaviya said India still had significant room to improve."Year by year, medals have increased, but we have much more potential. There is no dearth of manpower or talent in the country," he said.Mandaviya expressed confidence that a strong performance in Aichi-Nagoya could further boost India's sporting ambitions."The athletes' success also becomes the nation's success. We have a contingent of 503 athletes competing at the upcoming Asian Games. I am confident that we will put up a good performance which will bring about a quantum change in the sports sector," he said.PRESSURE INTO PERFORMANCEMandaviya's central message to the athletes was one of confidence.He urged Indian competitors not to view their opponents as threats but as opportunities to test themselves and fight for medals."I am confident Indian athletes will not fear their opponents. This should become our mentality. Convert pressure into performance and look at opponents as an opportunity to win medals," Mandaviya said.The Sports Minister's remarks come as India looks to build on its best-ever Asian Games campaign in Hangzhou, where the country crossed the 100-medal mark for the first time.IOA president PT Usha, sports federation officials, administrators and ministry representatives were among those present at the send-off ceremony.As the contingent prepares for another major continental challenge, Mandaviya's call was clear: India has made significant progress, but the focus must now be on pushing the country's sporting standards even higher.- EndsPublished By: Amar PanickerPublished On: Sep 8, 2026 23:43 IST