India's six-medal performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics — its best ever — catalyzed a transformation in sports infrastructure that is now bearing visible results. The government's ₹15,000-crore Sports Infrastructure Mission, launched in October 2024, has funded 14 high-performance centers across the country.
New Facilities
State-of-the-art training centers have been completed or are under construction in Bengaluru (athletics), Bhopal (shooting), Odisha (hockey), Guwahati (boxing), and Patiala (wrestling and weightlifting). Each center features international-standard equipment, sports science laboratories, and residential facilities for athletes.
The National Centre of Excellence for Athletics in Bengaluru, opened in January 2026, boasts a Mondo-surfaced track identical to the one used at the Paris Olympics. It has already attracted foreign athletes and coaches for pre-season training camps.
Beyond Facilities
- Sports science staff increased from 45 to 280 across national programs
- Dedicated nutrition and recovery centers at all national training camps
- AI-powered performance analysis systems deployed for 12 Olympic disciplines
- International coaching appointments in athletics, swimming, and gymnastics
"Infrastructure alone doesn't win medals, but its absence guarantees you won't. India is finally building the ecosystem that sustained excellence requires," said former Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra.
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics two years away, India's Sports Authority has set a target of 12-15 medals — an ambition that would have seemed fanciful just a few years ago.
