The ongoing tussle between the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president and the sports ministry over the affiliation of two rival Indian Golf Union bodies has prompted a meeting scheduled at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on 21st January. A letter from the sports ministry dated 15th January invited the IOA president, executive council members, and presidents and secretaries of recognised National Sports Federations (NSFs).

This meeting gained importance after IOA president PT Usha accused sports ministry officials of misleading the sports minister. In a strongly worded letter, she stated, “...(Since) I have assumed office in the IOA, it has become more and more apparent that the staff of the Ministry deliberately never appraises the true and correct facts to the Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports.” This followed the ministry's directive for recognising the Harish Kumar Shetty-led faction over the ministry-backed Brijinder Singh.

The meeting also comes amid a stalemate between the IOA president and its Executive Council (EC). The IOA has not held a significant EC meeting since January last year, when the disputed appointment of CEO Raghuram Iyer was made. While the EC claimed it never approved his appointment, the president argued that only his salary renegotiation was requested and addressed. This meeting could offer the ministry an opportunity to mediate and resolve the issues.

If all EC members and the IOA president attend, it would mark the first time the warring parties meet since September. Whether the meeting will foster resolution remains to be seen.

The ministry’s 2036 Olympic bid plans may also surface during the discussion. Although the IOA has submitted a letter of intent to the IOC, the absence of a bid committee and lack of a venue remain gaps in the process. Smooth IOA operations are crucial for presenting a strong bid. Additionally, the National Games in Uttarakhand might be part of the agenda.

In another significant step towards boosting India’s sports ecosystem, the sports ministry hosted its first-ever corporate roundtable in New Delhi on Thursday, bringing together representatives from over 40 corporate houses. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya shared an ambitious vision of making India one of the top five sporting nations by 2047.

“We want every corporation to focus on one sport, giving it the attention and resources it truly deserves,” Mandaviya said, urging businesses to align their CSR initiatives with athlete development and branding. The discussions also touched on nurturing talent at the grassroots level and the need for stronger financial backing for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).

The meeting reflected a shared goal of creating a thriving sports culture in the country, with corporate partnerships playing a pivotal role.