India aims to strengthen every sport beyond medal wins, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said at the World Archery Para Series Amdavad 2026, highlighting India’s plans to build world-class sports infrastructure, training, equipment, sports engineering and medical facilities.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday said India’s sporting ambition should extend beyond winning the maximum number of medals, with the country instead focusing on strengthening every sport represented at major international competitions.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Archery Association of India’s World Archery Para Series Amdavad 2026, Shah said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership was working towards creating a comprehensive sporting ecosystem in the country.
“Our aim is not merely to win the maximum number of medals, but to strengthen all the sports included in the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Police Games, and other such competitions,” Shah said.
The World Archery Para Series is being held in Ahmedabad from September 5 to 9, bringing together 108 athletes from 19 countries. The international competition is expected to provide a significant platform for para archers to demonstrate their skills and compete at the highest level.
Shah said India’s approach to sports development should not be restricted to medal counts. He stressed the importance of strengthening the entire ecosystem, including competitive opportunities, professional training, modern infrastructure, sports equipment and specialised support systems for athletes.
According to Shah, India has the potential to emerge as a major global destination for sports training across disciplines. He said the country could also develop into an important centre for manufacturing sports facilities and equipment, supporting both domestic athletes and the international sporting community.
The Union Minister further highlighted the potential of India and Gujarat to become major global centres for sports injury treatment and rehabilitation. He said developments in sports engineering and sports medical science would play an increasingly important role in strengthening the country’s sporting ecosystem.
“In the coming days, India will rapidly emerge as a global leader in the fields of sports engineering and sports medical science, while also becoming a major medical centre for the treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries,” Shah said.
He outlined a broader vision of making India the world’s largest sporting hub, with Ahmedabad playing an important role in that development. Shah said sporting facilities being developed in the city would be built according to international standards and would continue to benefit athletes beyond the immediate competitions hosted there.
The Union Minister also referred to the achievements of leading Indian para archers, including Harvinder Singh, Sheetal Devi, Rakesh Kumar, Shyam Sundar Sami and Payal Nag. He said their performances on the international stage demonstrated the growing strength and potential of Indian para sports.
Shah emphasised that world-class infrastructure, coaching and practice facilities alone could not create champions. According to him, an athlete’s passion, dedication and determination remain the fundamental qualities required to achieve sporting excellence.
“The true foundation of becoming a champion is an athlete’s passion, dedication and determination to win,” he said.
In a post on social media platform X, Shah also described the World Archery Para Series as a test of the “single-minded focus” of archers. He said the competition would establish new benchmarks of excellence.
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The event in Ahmedabad reflects India’s wider effort to expand its sporting ecosystem and create stronger opportunities for athletes across disciplines. The focus on infrastructure, training, technology, sports medicine and equipment is aimed at supporting athletes at every stage of their sporting journey.
Shah’s remarks underline the government’s broader sporting vision of building capabilities across multiple disciplines rather than measuring India’s progress only through medal tallies at major international events.
