LSN News › India

Sport · India Bureau

Indian athletics poised for Olympic medal push after decades of underperformance

India's track and field programme is experiencing a significant revival, with athletes and administrators optimistic about medal prospects at the upcoming Olympics. The resurgence marks a turning point for a sport that has long underperformed relative to India's sporting potential.

LSN India · 3 October 2026

Indian athletics poised for Olympic medal push after decades of underperformance

Indian athletics, long considered a dormant sector of the nation's Olympic ambitions, is showing unmistakable signs of awakening. With improved training infrastructure, better coaching standards, and increased investment in athlete development, the sport is positioned to deliver meaningful results on the global stage.

The transformation reflects a broader shift in how athletics is prioritized within Indian sports administration. Enhanced funding mechanisms, professional support systems, and strategic talent identification programmes have created conditions for competitive performance at major international events.

Several Indian athletes have demonstrated capability to compete with world-class competitors in recent years, setting national records and qualifying for international competitions. This pool of talent represents the foundation upon which medal aspirations are being built for the Olympic Games.

ExpertsAttribute the improvement to sustained efforts in addressing long-standing challenges that plagued Indian athletics, including inadequate training facilities, limited international exposure for athletes, and inconsistent coaching quality. The modernization of these elements has begun yielding tangible results on the track and field.

As India prepares for the Olympic medal hunt, the athletics fraternity views this moment as a critical juncture that could establish the country as a credible force in global athletics for years to come.