There was a time when India’s sporting success depended on extraordinary individuals overcoming extraordinary odds. The stories were familiar: a wrestler training in a mud akhada, a weightlifter borrowing equipment, or a boxer travelling hundreds of kilometres just to compete. Success was celebrated, but it often came despite the system rather than because of it.
That narrative is beginning to change. As the Commonwealth Games get underway in Glasgow, the spotlight is not only on India’s medal contenders but also on the journey that brought many of them there. Behind every athlete is an increasingly structured pathway shaped by grassroots competitions, talent identification, sports science, government investment and state-led programmes. The question now is no longer whether India can produce world-class athletes. It is whether the country’s sporting pipeline has finally evolved into a sustainable system capable of producing champions consistently.
The answer is encouraging, but it is not yet definitive. The launch of the Khelo India programme in 2017 marked one of the most ambitious attempts to transform Indian sport from the grassroots. Rather than focusing solely on elite athletes, the initiative sought to create a culture of participation while building structured pathways for talented youngsters through school competitions, university games, scholarships, infrastructure development and talent identification. Its broader vision was simple: strengthen the sporting ecosystem so that excellence becomes a product of the system rather than an exception to it.
Nearly a decade later, the results are becoming increasingly visible. Many of the athletes representing India at international events have progressed through structured junior competitions and national development programmes. The emergence of athletes in disciplines such as athletics, weightlifting, boxing, shooting and para-sports reflects a wider talent pool than ever before. India is no longer dependent on one or two sporting disciplines to carry its medal hopes.
Equally significant is the growing role of state governments. Odisha transformed itself into the country’s hockey capital through sustained investment in infrastructure and high-performance centres. Haryana continues to dominate wrestling and boxing through its strong grassroots culture. Telangana has expanded its focus beyond elite competition by introducing a Youth Sports Week that combines athletics, marathons, yoga, leadership programmes and career guidance to encourage participation among young people. Rather than treating sport as an isolated activity, the initiative positions it as part of education, health and youth development.
Andhra Pradesh has adopted another innovative approach by identifying para-athletes through government schools, with the long-term objective of creating a stronger Paralympic pipeline. Such initiatives recognise that future champions may emerge from communities that have historically remained outside mainstream sporting structures.
This decentralisation may prove to be India’s biggest sporting advantage. Instead of relying exclusively on national federations, multiple states are now building their own ecosystems. Healthy competition between states to produce athletes could ultimately strengthen India’s international performance.
Yet, medals alone should not define whether the pipeline is working. A successful sporting system is measured by participation, accessibility and continuity. It should ensure that talented athletes are discovered early, receive quality coaching, access modern sports science, compete regularly and continue progressing without financial uncertainty forcing them out of the system.
India has made substantial progress in several of these areas, but challenges remain. Infrastructure is still unevenly distributed across rural and urban regions. Coaching standards vary considerably between states. Many promising athletes continue to struggle with nutrition, rehabilitation, psychological support and consistent competition exposure. Administrative inefficiencies within some sports federations also continue to disrupt athlete development at crucial stages.
The Commonwealth Games therefore represent more than another medal opportunity. This year’s Games are being held in a streamlined format featuring only ten sports, reducing India’s traditional medal opportunities in disciplines such as cricket, hockey and badminton. While this may affect the overall medal tally, it also places greater emphasis on Olympic disciplines like athletics, boxing and weightlifting, areas where India has invested heavily over the past decade.
The country’s preparations also reflect increasing professionalism. Ahead of the Games, Commonwealth-bound athletes underwent multiple rounds of anti-doping testing, highlighting a stronger emphasis on integrity and international standards.
Perhaps the clearest sign of progress lies in India’s changing expectations.
A decade ago, every international medal felt like an unexpected triumph. Today, athletes like Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, Lovlina Borgohain and emerging stars across disciplines arrive at major events carrying genuine medal expectations rather than hopeful aspirations. That shift is not accidental. It reflects years of systematic investment, improved coaching structures and broader talent identification.
Still, India’s ambitions stretch beyond Glasgow. With the Asian Games later this year, discussions around hosting future global events and continued investment in grassroots sport, the country is positioning itself not simply as a participant but as an emerging sporting nation. The Commonwealth Games are one milestone in a much longer journey.
The true success of India’s sporting pipeline will not be measured only by podium finishes over the next fortnight. It will be measured by whether the next generation of athletes, regardless of where they come from, can see a clear path from a school playground or district competition to the international stage.
For perhaps the first time in independent India’s sporting history, that pathway appears to exist. The challenge now is ensuring that it reaches every corner of the country.
