Context:

• This article is based on an Editorial “The secret to India’s Asian Games 2023 success? An empowering sports policy” which was published in the Indian Express. In the recently concluded 19th Asian Games 2023, India performed its best-ever in medal tally. 

Key Highlights of Asian Games 2023

• Asian Games 2023: India’s Medals Tally
  • At the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, India set a new record, With an unprecedented haul of 107 medals (28 gold, 38 silvers and 41 bronze).
  • At the Asian Games 2023, India hit a historic 100+ medal mark,  By doing so,India became the only fourth country after China (383), Japan (188) and the Republic of Korea (190) to win 100 or more medals in a single edition of the Asian Games.
• Asian Games 2023: Athletes Performance
  • At the Asian Games 2023, Indian athletics scored big, with a total of 29 medals – six gold, 14 silver and nine bronze.
• Asian Games 2023: India’s Men-Hockey Performance
  • The India men’s hockey team won the gold medal in Asian Games 2023 and booked a Paris Olympics berth with a 5-1 thrashing of Japan.
• Asian Games 2023: Introduction of New Sports
  • Asian Games 2023 saw two medal sports make their debut: Breakdancing and e-sport. 
  • Apart from them, Cricket, and board games – Chess, Xiangqi, and Go returned to Asian Games in this edition.

What are the most important factors to achieving excellence in sport?

• Achieving excellence in sports necessitates not only substantial socio-economic progress but also a large talent pool that has access to high-quality sports infrastructure and resources. 
• Effectively participating population.

What are the challenges in sports in India?

• Ineffective Participation: There is a lack of adequate and effective sports participation and preparing Olympic-level sports talent. 
• Inadequate Infrastructure & Accessibility: There is a lack of availability of proper sports infrastructure in India, particularly in educational institutions and in underdeveloped states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha. 
• Inability to Mobilize the Requisite Resources: Research suggests that it is well observed in developing countries. Example, Argentina and Brazil, which excel in team sports, lag in individual athletic and swimming events due to immobilization of adequate resources.
• Underutilisation of Resources and Infrastructure: The Standing Committee on Human Resource Development noted in 2019 that, despite substantial allocations of Rs 500 crore to the Khelo India scheme in 2019-20, the actual expenditure was only Rs 318 crore. 
• Inherent Governance Challenges: Corruption and a lack of ethical conduct. 
• Other Challenges: Shortage of coaching staff, gender disparities, and difficulties in attracting support from the private sector. 

Also read: Doping In Indian Sports: NADA’s Ineffectiveness Exposed

What are the Government initiatives to promote sports in India?

• High Budget Allocation: The budgetary allocation for the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, nearly doubled from 2014-15 to 2023-24, reaching approximately Rs 3,400 crores, in which over two-thirds of this budget allocation is designated for the Department of Sports. 
• Khelo India Scheme: It has played a pivotal role in providing opportunities to approximately 23 lakh school children, identifying potential talent that can be nurtured and developed further. It offers a source of income for local sporting talent by involving them as sports coaches.
• FIT India Movement: Concerted efforts to instill a culture of sports and fitness from an early age.
• National Education Policy 2020: It provided for the incorporation of sports with study.
• Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): It provides elite athletes with comprehensive assistance, including funding, specialized equipment, international exposure, top-tier coaching, and a monthly allowance of Rs 50,000 for Core Group athletes and Rs 25,000 for Developmental Group athletes. 
  • Champion athletes like P V Sindhu and Sakshi Malik have been its beneficiaries.

Significance

• Exerting Influence: India’s rise in sports is growing concurrently with the rise in its soft power. From hosting the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, 2023 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup to the 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup, India is exerting its influence holistically. 
  • Domestically, stellar sports performance has vital consequences. 
• Social Mobility: A country that is able to win more medals in sports is also able to foster talent in other areas, enabling social mobility. 

The Path Ahead

• Ensuring accessible sports participation and preparing Olympic-level sports talent. 
• Adequate long-term mobilization of public expenditure and resources to make sports participation accessible.
• Access to basic and necessary infrastructure. 
• The state must bear the recurring expenses associated with maintaining the necessary governance and implementation machinery. 

Conclusion

India’s record-breaking performance at the Asian Games 2023 reflects the success of empowering sports policies, such as Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, but challenges like inadequate infrastructure and governance issues still need focused attention for sustained excellence in sports.