Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tells NSFs to clean Augean Stables | MyKhel Special

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In what can be termed as a very important meeting held between Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and several National Sports Federations in the Capital on Tuesday (January 21), a loud and clear message has been sent: Practice Good governance and not cling on to power.

Anyone who has followed sports politics in India over the years will understand why this meeting was important. Day in and day out, hungry officials wanting to cling on to power by hook or crook have become more hungry than 'netas.' Worse, these officials have talked of 'interference' and "autonomy' being impinged by the Sports Ministry. The number of people running to courts at the drop of a hat has caused deep embarrassment.

With the core being India's desire to host the Summer Olympics in 2036, Dr Mandaviya has made it clear good governance is a must. Cleaning the Augean Stables, governing well and also putting in place a template for the next Olympics on 2028 in Los Angeles, all this is important.

As much as the focus is on the next Olympics, the NSFs also cannot be on sleep mode. In 2026, Indian athletes will be competing in the diluted Commonwealth Games in Scotland as well as the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. Medals from these Games are also important plus there are Olympic qualification slots also up for grabs from the Asiad.

MyKhel has learnt the message from the minister is federations have to be transparent, practice good governance and also come up with blueprints. Going by how India fared poorly in many disciplines at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the wake-up call is important.

Sporting disciplines like boxing, gymnastics, tennis and weightlifting plus many more are under the radar. Recently, the Athletics Federation of India held its elections. Even they have decided it is important to make changes. Instead of large-scale national camps there will be a different training method. In this, athletes can choose where they want to go and train.

Worse, in a discipline like weightlifting, the federation has been showcasing only one athlete, Mirabai Chanu. Surely, if there is good governance and the sports officials are responsible, more talent will be unearthed and nurtured.

What happened to two promising lifters Jereme Lalrinnunga and Achinta Sheuli, nobody knows. It is well known these NSFs depend on grants from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. If there is a call that hungry and greedy sports officials fall in line, it's very good.

The massive bickering has caused enormous grief to India, with the infamous wrestling crisis of 2023 and 2024 becoming so dirty. At the other end of the spectrum, there is massive infighting in the Indian Olympic Association as well. Recalcitrant members of the executive board are at war with IOA President PT Usha.

At a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Government are very keen India hosts the 2036 Olympics, fights in the NSF and even knocking on the doors of international sports federations and marking email copies to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has sullied the image of India.

"Our government is every clear that all the federations have to adopt good governance in their functioning. The elections need to be transparent. People have a habit of going to courts if they have lost the elections. On the other hand, there are many individuals who keep sticking to their posts. This should not happen as it creates problems for our athletes," said Dr Mandaviya.

Sources told MyKhel, the NSFs have finally realised the writing on the wall is clear. They cannot be obsessed with their own positions and let the sport and athletes suffer. Of course, not all sports federations are greedy.

Shooting, despite all problems of coaches with bloated egos has brought medals to India at the Paris Olympics. Boxing and wrestling have immense potential. How to plan, not only for the two big events in 2026 but also bring in good governance will now become mandatory.

Sports officials who have been clinging on to power or bringing in family members as replacements will need to watch out. It will be interesting to see what happens next in the Indian Weightlifting Federation elections as well. So many elections have gone into dispute and are now in courts of law.