Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra Calls For Bottom-Up Approach To Build India's Sporting Culture

New Delhi: Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra has called for a fundamental shift in India's approach to sport, saying the country must move beyond celebrating champions and focus on building a culture in which more children and young people participate in sport.

Speaking at IAMGAME 2026, Bindra said India cannot build its sporting "pyramid" from the top. While investment in and focus on elite sport have increased, he said the priority should now be to broaden the base by encouraging more young Indians to play sport rather than viewing it merely as a pathway to Olympic medals.

Bindra calls for wider participation