What is Mission Olympic Wing? Indian Army's programme behind nurturing talent
Indian Army sportspersons delivered an outstanding performance for Team India at the Asian Games 2026, winning 20 medals: six gold, eight silver and six bronze. Their contribution accounted for nearly one-fourth of India’s overall tally of 85 medals and almost 29 per cent of the country’s 21 gold medals. The Army’s six gold medals were also double its tally at the previous Asian Games, reflecting the growing contribution of Army sportspersons to India’s performance at major international competitions.
Among the standout performers was Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh, who won three individual athletics medals: silver in the 1,500m and 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m. Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda won two gold and one silver, including the individual women’s trap title with an Asian-record score of 28, becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold in trap. Havildar Sawan Barwal won marathon silver with a national record, ending India’s 44-year wait for a medal in the event, while Naib Subedar Sarvesh Kushare won high-jump silver after a 56-year gap.
Naib Subedar Salman Khan, alongside Satnam Singh, secured India’s first Asian Games medal in men’s double sculls. Subedar Dhiraj Bommadevara set national and Asian Games qualification records in men’s recurve archery, while Havildar Kamaljeet Singh, partnering Suruchi Singh, won mixed 10m air pistol gold with an Asian Games record score of 484.6.
These achievements are backed by the Indian Army’s Mission Olympics Wing (MOW), operating within the broader training framework of the Director General Integrated Training (DGIT). Since the launch of Mission Olympics in 2001, the Army has developed a structured system for identifying sporting talent and providing specialised coaching, sports science support, strength and conditioning, nutrition, recovery, mental conditioning and international exposure. The approach is designed to create a sustained pathway from talent identification to elite international performance.
A key pillar of this system is the Army Sports Institute (ASI), Pune, raised on 1 July 2001 under the Mission Olympics programme. It provides systematic training, professional coaching, sports science support, international exposure and specialised infrastructure across disciplines including archery, athletics, boxing, diving, fencing, weightlifting and wrestling.
The Army’s sporting ecosystem has since expanded considerably. About 9,000 sportspersons have been trained across 28 Army sports nodes, supported by 18 Boys Sports Companies, two Girls Sports Companies and a dedicated Paralympic Node. These feeder structures play a crucial role in identifying promising talent at an early stage and developing athletes for higher levels of competition.
The objective remains clear: identify talent early, nurture it systematically and prepare sportspersons to deliver for India at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games and other major international competitions.
From identifying potential to producing podium finishes, Mission Olympics represents the Indian Army’s sustained contribution to India’s sporting excellence.- Ends
Shivani Sharma is a broadcast journalist who specialises in Defence reporting. She happens to be the first Indian journalist to reach the world’s highest motorable top at Umling La and also to cover the southern most strategic tip of the country at Nicobar.
