Asian Games 2026: Sports Ministry’s Rs 1 Crore, Overseas Training Boost to Indian Gymnastics Under TAGG Initiative

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New Delhi, Aug 13: In a significant step towards bolstering India's medal prospects at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, the Sports Ministry has allocated a budget of ₹1 crore under the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) scheme exclusively for gymnastics.

The decision to allocate a fund of Rs 1,00,90,500/- was formalised during the 158th Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) meeting held on July 23, 2025, after a proposal was submitted by the Gymnastics Federation of India earlier last month.

According to documents accessed by myKhel, the ₹1,00,90,500 allocation is the highest among the nine disciplines approved at the MOC meeting.

Training Abroad and Global Exposure

As part of the initiative, 12 athletes, three coaches, and one support staff will head to France for a 30-day high-performance training camp from November 16 to December 15, 2025. This will be followed by participation in two prestigious international events - FIG World Cup in Cottbus, Germany (Feb 19-22, 2026) and FIG World Cup in Cairo, Egypt (April 3-6, 2026), where 10 athletes will compete alongside their coaches and support staff.

Spotlight on Medal Contenders

Among the team members are Pranati Nayak, bronze medallist at the Senior Asian Championships, and Protistha Samanta, who narrowly missed a podium finish with a fourth-place effort. Both are being groomed as strong medal prospects for the Asian Games along with the male athletes.

Funding Boost Welcomed

Hailing the government's funding push for Gymnastics under TAGG plan and reflecting on the budget allocation Dronacharya Awardee Bisheshwar Nandi, who coached legendary Olympian gymnast Dipa Karmakar, said: "It is a very good decision from the government. I think a little more would have been great, but this is still a major step forward for Indian Gymnastics.

"I don't recall the funding we had back then, but after hearing about this budget, I feel very happy. I want to thank Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya for his support... The Gymnastics Federation of India is also working on it. And all of us are backing our gymnasts to do well in the Asian Games in 2026."

"Asian Games is a very big target for us. Gymnastics is the mother of all sports and should be encouraged in every state. With the right support, more gymnasts like Ashish Kumar (2010 Asian Games), Dipa Karmakar, Pranati Nayak, and Aruna Reddy will emerge for India," Nandi, a former gymnast and a five-time national champion, added further.

A Shift in Approach with TAGG

TAGG is a newly launched high-performance programme modelled on the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), designed to support both Olympic and non-Olympic sports. The aim is twofold - to maximise India's medal count at the Asian Games and to prepare athletes in disciplines where the country is yet to win an Olympic medal, including gymnastics, cycling, and fencing.

The initial core group under TAGG consists of 37 athletes across 16 disciplines - 10 Olympic sports and 6 non-Olympic sports.

Athletes Selected Under TAGG Gymnastics Plan

Upon the recommendation of the Gymnastics Federation of India, the Sports Ministry shortlisted nine senior and two junior athletes under the TAGG plan.

Men's Artistic Gymnastics

• Yogeshwar Singh (Senior)
• Tapan Mohanty (Senior)
• Harikrishnan JS (Senior)
• Shayan Sharma (Senior)
• Tapeshwarnath Das (Senior)
• Harschit D (Junior)
• Akshat Bajaj (Junior)

Women's Artistic Gymnastics

• Pranati Nayak (Senior)
• Protistha Samanta (Senior)
• Anoushka Patil (Senior)
• Swastika Ganguly (Senior)

With strategic international training, exposure to top-tier competitions, and government funding, Indian gymnastics will look to enter a crucial phase of preparation as they look to improve medal prospects for Aichi-Nagoya 2026, and lay a foundation for long-term success at global events, including future Olympics.