Efforts to strengthen India’s sporting ecosystem have been intensified as the Maharashtra government announced a major plan to expand sports infrastructure across the state. The initiative has been aimed at ensuring greater participation of athletes from Maharashtra in the 2036 Olympic Games, which India hopes to host.
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who revealed that 25 centres of excellence and 96 sports development hubs would be established across the state. These facilities are expected to focus on identifying and nurturing sporting talent at various levels, enabling athletes to receive structured training and professional support. The move has been positioned as part of a long-term strategy to enhance Maharashtra’s contribution to India’s Olympic contingent.
It was stated that several high-performance centres have already been developed. According to the chief minister, eight centres covering twelve disciplines such as athletics, badminton and wrestling are currently operational. Plans for four additional high-performance facilities have also been outlined. Through these centres, athletes are expected to receive advanced coaching, sports science support, and world-class training environments.
Alongside these specialised centres, a broader network of sports development infrastructure is being planned. Twenty-five divisional-level centres of excellence and ninety-six sports quality development centres are expected to be created across Maharashtra. Financial allocations have reportedly been made for the development and improvement of sports complexes at the state, divisional, district and taluka levels. These facilities are intended to expand access to sports training and create a pipeline of athletes from grassroots to elite levels.
At the national level, India’s Olympic ambitions have continued to gain momentum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated the country’s intention to host the 2036 Olympic Games. It has been noted that the upcoming 2030 Commonwealth Games will also take place in India, reflecting the country’s broader strategy of strengthening sports governance and infrastructure. The National Sports Governance Act has been cited as part of reforms aimed at improving sports administration and expanding opportunities for athletes.
Preparations for the Olympic bid have also progressed internationally. Indian officials have visited the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, where Ahmedabad in Gujarat has been presented as the proposed host city. A joint Olympic proposal prepared by Ahmedabad and the nearby capital Gandhinagar has outlined infrastructure and event plans with projected costs estimated between $4.1 billion and $7.5 billion.
In Maharashtra, sports development initiatives have also been supported through collaborative programmes. One such initiative, “Project Mahadeva,” was launched in December 2025 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The project has been implemented through partnerships involving the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation, Village Social Transformation Foundation, Western India Football Association, CIDCO, and the state sports department.
The inauguration ceremony attracted several prominent sporting personalities, highlighting the scale of the initiative. Global football icon Lionel Messi, former Argentine players Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, Indian football star Sunil Chhetri, and national team captain Rahul Bheke were among those present at the launch.
Through these initiatives, Maharashtra’s sports ecosystem is expected to undergo significant expansion, with a focus on building a strong talent pipeline and positioning the state as a major contributor to India’s Olympic aspirations.
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