The Indian contingent for Asian Games 2026 was received a grand send-off in New Delhi. The Indian contingent for the Asian Games 2026 received a grand send-off in New Delhi, with Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya in attendance. The minister, along with IOA President Dr P.T. Usha, Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao and Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav, unveiled the team’s official jersey in the presence of athletes and support staff.
Encouraging the athletes, Dr. Mandaviya urged them to turn pressure into performance and view every opponent as an opportunity. Expressing confidence in the team, he said the Indian contingent would deliver a strong performance at the Asian Games and make the country proud.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the rise of young talent in Indian sport, saying more than 300 of the 503 athletes in India’s Asian Games contingent will be making their debut. He said the development reflects India’s growing talent pool and stronger bench strength across sports.
Mandaviya also pointed to India’s improved performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where the country’s gold medal tally rose by more than 35% from the previous edition’s 13 golds. He said the government ensured a transparent, merit-based selection process through open trials, independent observers and camera monitoring, while wishing the athletes and support staff success.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said India is working on a long-term plan to emerge as a leading sporting nation ahead of its goal of hosting the 2036 Olympics. He said over ₹36,000 crore has been earmarked for sports infrastructure over the next decade, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is helping create greater opportunities for Indian athletes to compete and succeed globally.
The Indian contingent will compete in various sports at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The 503-member squad comprises athletes and support staff. Notably, more than 300 of these athletes are set to make their Asian Games debut, highlighting the growing talent and strong bench strength in Indian sports.
