NSF Conclave 2026: Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Calls for Transparent Athlete Selections, Stronger Governance

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday urged National Sports Federations (NSFs) to adopt transparent athlete selection processes, strengthen governance standards and place athlete welfare at the centre of every decision during the National Sports Federation (NSF) Conclave 2026 in New Delhi.

The conclave was attended by Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse, senior officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and representatives of various National Sports Federations.

Discussions focused on improving sports governance, athlete welfare and India’s preparations for the Asian Games 2026, Los Angeles Olympics 2028 and the Commonwealth Games 2030. The meeting also reviewed the compliance status of NSFs under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, while highlighting best governance practices across sporting bodies.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mandaviya stressed that athletes must remain the highest priority for every stakeholder in Indian sports.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that no athlete is ever subjected to injustice. Injustice can take many forms, and wherever such a situation arises,” he said.

The Sports Minister also called for greater accountability in the athlete selection process, saying technology should be used to eliminate doubts over fairness.

“Open selection trials should be recorded on camera in the presence of observers. There should be absolutely no compromise on transparency in the selection process,” Dr. Mandaviya stated.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for Indian sports, the minister highlighted the importance of providing athletes with more opportunities to compete throughout the year.

“The Prime Minister has consistently emphasised the need to keep athletes on the playing field and develop a strong league culture in the country. Every National Sports Federation must work towards creating greater competitive opportunities for athletes throughout the year.”

Dr. Mandaviya also reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s anti-doping framework, saying action should extend beyond athletes to everyone involved in the supply chain.

“We must collectively tackle the menace of doping. It is not enough to act only against athletes. The entire chain-from manufacturers and suppliers to facilitators and users-must be identified and dealt with through a transparent and robust mechanism. Only then can we effectively eradicate doping from sports,” he said.

The Union Minister further advocated for building a stronger pool of Indian coaches to reduce reliance on foreign experts.

“We need to build a repository of quality Indian coaches. Along with training athletes, we must invest equally in training our coaches by providing them the best opportunities and international exposure. A well-trained coach will ultimately create world-class athletes for the country,” he said.

Concluding the conclave, Dr. Mandaviya reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to working closely with National Sports Federations to improve governance standards, ensure compliance with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, and strengthen India’s preparations for upcoming international multi-sport events.