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Khelo India — Ministry of Youth Affairs & SportsTarget Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) — MYAS via Mission Olympic CellSAI Sports Training Centre (STC) — Sports Authority of IndiaNational Sports Development Fund — MYASNational Coaching Development Scheme — SAIShiv Chhatrapati State Sports Award — Govt. of MaharashtraHaryana Medal Reward Policy — Govt. of HaryanaKhelo India — Ministry of Youth Affairs & SportsTarget Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) — MYAS via Mission Olympic CellSAI Sports Training Centre (STC) — Sports Authority of IndiaNational Sports Development Fund — MYASNational Coaching Development Scheme — SAIShiv Chhatrapati State Sports Award — Govt. of MaharashtraHaryana Medal Reward Policy — Govt. of Haryana
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, through the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and its Mission Olympic Cell (MOC)

Target Asian Games Group (TAGG): Individual Support for Asian Games 2026 Medal Prospects (SAI)

SAI's TAGG division was disbanded in May 2026; the programme was built for the 2026 Asian Games. The Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) was a Sports Authority of India high-performance programme, modelled on the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), that gave individualised support to medal prospects for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. It was launched in 2025 with 37 athletes in 16 disciplines, 10 Olympic and 6 non-Olympic, and the Mission Olympic Cell added athletes later, for example in tennis, taekwondo, karate, gymnastics and soft tennis. TAGG did not replace TOPS; it focused on sports where India has regional potential but has yet to convert it into Olympic success. On 19 May 2026 SAI's Director General re-arranged its divisions and disbanded the TAGG division; its work was redistributed between the TOPS division, which now manages 27 disciplines and the participation coordination for the Olympic, Asian and Commonwealth Games, and the Training of Elite Athletes and Management Support (TEAMS) division, which handles para, winter and non-Olympic disciplines. The Asian Games 2026 were held in September and October 2026. Check with SAI whether TAGG-style support continues.

Researched — source pending· 11 Oct 2026
Government scheme
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Last updated: 11 Oct 2026· Source: The Bridge, DT Next, ANI via Asianet — reports of the TAGG launch, MOC meetings and SAI's May 2026 reorganisation
◎ Researched — source document pending
This entry describes the scheme as run by The Bridge, DT Next, ANI via Asianet — reports of the TAGG launch, MOC meetings and SAI's May 2026 reorganisation, but we have not yet been able to link a specific notification, G.O. or guidelines PDF for it. Treat the details below as indicative only, and confirm the current eligibility and amounts with the state sports department or on the official portal before applying.
Eligibility, benefits, amounts and deadlines are set by the implementing government department and change without notice. Always confirm the current terms on the official source linked on each page before applying.

Overview

SAI's TAGG division was disbanded in May 2026; the programme was built for the 2026 Asian Games. The Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) was a Sports Authority of India high-performance programme, modelled on the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), that gave individualised support to medal prospects for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. It was launched in 2025 with 37 athletes in 16 disciplines, 10 Olympic and 6 non-Olympic, and the Mission Olympic Cell added athletes later, for example in tennis, taekwondo, karate, gymnastics and soft tennis. TAGG did not replace TOPS; it focused on sports where India has regional potential but has yet to convert it into Olympic success. On 19 May 2026 SAI's Director General re-arranged its divisions and disbanded the TAGG division; its work was redistributed between the TOPS division, which now manages 27 disciplines and the participation coordination for the Olympic, Asian and Commonwealth Games, and the Training of Elite Athletes and Management Support (TEAMS) division, which handles para, winter and non-Olympic disciplines. The Asian Games 2026 were held in September and October 2026. Check with SAI whether TAGG-style support continues.

Key details

Age
Athletes identified as medal prospects for the Asian Games 2026, in Olympic and non-Olympic sports
Amount / benefit value
Individually sanctioned packages; reported examples: ₹28.89 lakh (Yuki Bhambri), ₹27.51 lakh (Sumit Nagal), ₹21.20 lakh (Rodali Barua).
Official website
https://thebridge.in/asian-games/india-launch-tagg-fuel-asian-games-medal-hopes-52772 ↗

Note: Details are from news reports of the TAGG launch, of Mission Olympic Cell meetings and of SAI's May 2026 reorganisation; SAI's own TAGG guidelines were not opened. The TAGG division has been disbanded, so check the current position with SAI.

Official documents

Notices and PDFs published by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, including earlier years. Links checked 2026-10-06.

Eligibility

  • ▸ Athletes recommended by their national sports federation and approved by the Mission Olympic Cell for the Asian Games 2026, based on recent performance at continental competitions.
  • ▸ At launch it was reported that, in tennis, kayaking and canoeing, athletes ranked in the top six in Asia for at least three months would be considered.
  • ▸ Individuals could not apply directly.

Benefits

  • ✓ Individually approved support from the Mission Olympic Cell, such as financial assistance for training and international competition schedules, foreign exposure, national coaching camps, personal physiotherapy, masseur and strength and conditioning programmes. Each package is sanctioned athlete by athlete.
  • ✓ Examples reported in 2026: ₹28.89 lakh for Yuki Bhambri (tennis, February to September 2026) and ₹27.51 lakh for Sumit Nagal (tennis, March to October 2026), sanctioned at the MOC's 169th meeting; ₹21.20 lakh for taekwondo athlete Rodali Barua's five international competitions; and four ministry-funded national camps, including one in Korea, for the Indian soft tennis team, whose player Jay Meena won India's first Asian Games soft tennis medal, a bronze, in September 2026.
  • ✓ Twelve tennis players were supported under TAGG by the time Dhakshineswar Suresh was included.

Application process

There was no individual application: athletes were inducted by the Mission Olympic Cell on federation recommendations. Because the TAGG division has been disbanded, contact SAI or your national federation about current support under TOPS or TEAMS.

Official link
https://thebridge.in/asian-games/india-launch-tagg-fuel-asian-games-medal-hopes-52772 ↗
Application referrals
—visitors referred

Apply via: There was no individual application: athletes were inducted by the Mission Olympic Cell on federation recommendations. Because the TAGG division has been disbanded, contact SAI or your national federation about current support under TOPS or TEAMS.