India, Jan. 21 -- In a meeting held on Tuesday with the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced a new strategy aimed at enhancing India's prospects for medal acquisition at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The minister underscored the importance of planning and infrastructure development through a public-private partnership model, while also advocating for increased "transparency and accountability" within the operations of NSFs to ensure that athletes are not adversely affected.

According to attendees of the meeting, the ministry plans to implement a ranking system for the federations based on criteria such as their performance in respective sports and adherence to good governance practices, as outlined in the Sports Bill.

"The renewal of recognition by the sports ministry will rely on this new ranking system, where NSFs will be evaluated on multiple criteria. Funding will be allocated based on these ratings, and federations that fail to demonstrate adequate performance will face reductions in their financial support," stated a senior official from one of the federations.

Additionally, the government intends to construct stadiums and sports facilities at the district and block levels through the public-private partnership model. NSFs will also be encouraged to explore avenues for sport development with the assistance of corporate entities.

The minister recently engaged with over 40 corporate entities to advocate for their support in enhancing sports facilities at the district level, establishing advanced academies, and financing training and coaching initiatives.

"There will be significant emphasis on constructing new infrastructure in smaller towns, districts, and blocks. We will initiate talent identification programs and national leagues. Additionally, the Khelo India School-level program is forthcoming. National Sports Federations (NSFs) have been encouraged to collaborate with corporations to advance sports through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding. The Ministry will play a role as a stakeholder in these initiatives," stated another official.

The sports minister has emphasized the importance of reducing litigation. The proposed Sports Bill includes the establishment of an Appellate Sports Tribunal to address disputes.

"Our government is unequivocal that all federations must implement good governance practices. Elections must be conducted transparently. There is a tendency for individuals to resort to legal action when they lose elections, while others remain entrenched in their positions. This situation is detrimental to our athletes," Mandaviya remarked in a statement.

"If we aspire to host the 2036 Olympics and enhance our medal count at LA 2028, it is imperative that all stakeholders contribute their resources and efforts. We must prioritize the nation, as athletes represent the country rather than any individual organization," he asserted in his address to the NSFs. 

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