Delhi Athletes Face Challenges Without Dedicated Sports Ministry; Equipment, Coaching And Sponsorship Impacted

The absence of an independent sports ministry in Delhi is creating significant challenges for athletes, who claim that the current system under the Department of Education fails to prioritise their needs. With sports policies and schemes managed alongside educational programs, many initiatives introduced by both the central and Delhi governments are not effectively implemented, leaving athletes to bear the brunt of delays.

Athletes report difficulties in accessing scholarships, training facilities, modern equipment, grounds, and coaching staff, which hampers their ability to compete at the national level. Without a dedicated ministry, sports-related issues often do not reach the government directly, forcing athletes to spend months resolving even minor problems. Many talented individuals reportedly abandon their sporting careers due to these challenges.

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Sushant, an athlete from Delhi, said that the formation of a separate sports ministry would allow athletes’ issues to be addressed directly, facilitating timely access to scholarships, training camps, and facilities, as well as better preparation for international competitions. Tushar Manna, a national-level athletics gold medalist, highlighted that finding sponsors is a major hurdle for Delhi athletes due to the lack of a dedicated ministry.

Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood stated that the government is continuously working to improve facilities for athletes, including launching scholarship schemes and providing the highest prize money for national and international medal winners. He clarified that creating a separate sports ministry is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs, not the Delhi government.

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Athletics coach Amarjeet emphasised that Delhi’s athletes are as talented as those from any other state, but the absence of a dedicated sports ministry prevents the formulation of long-term development plans. Many athletes are reportedly forced to leave Delhi for states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in search of better opportunities.