National Sports Governance Act | 'It gives us a solid framework to take Indian sports to new heights': Abhinav Bindra

Abhinav Bindra, an Olympic champion, has voiced his support for the National Sports Governance Act, emphasising its benefits for sports development in India. The National Sport Governance Bill, 2025 received approval from the Lok Sabha on August 11, with the Rajya Sabha following suit the next day after thorough discussions.The bill transformed into an act on Tuesday after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent, with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya terming it a revolutionary reform in sports administration."I think this act heralds a new start for Indian sports. It is no secret that we have struggled a bit with governance in the past couple of decades and I think the act now gives a very solid framework for us to take Indian sports to new heights," Bindra said.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!"I think there are many positive elements within the act, sports tribunal for one. We have had a lot of litigation in Indian sports and the creation of the tribunal I think is a very, very positive thing because it will give specific attention to sports related matters and disputes and taken to their logical conclusion quickly."Bindra, who won India's first individual Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, believes the act will improve governance standards in Indian sports."The act is also athlete centric with the whole aspects of sportsperson of merit coming into executive committees. It kind of fosters entry of athletes into administration and I think that is very positive. I really look forward to the positive implementation of the act across the board which will take Indian governance standards to the next level.""I believe that the act makes it quite clear that at the end of the day the Olympic Charter holds supreme. At the end of the day world sports is governed by the Olympic Charter, and respective charters of various international federations and I think the act makes it quite clear that it holds supreme... that the whole aspect of autonomy is quite secure."The new legislation requires national sports bodies to maintain a general body with balanced representation from affiliate members and specific ex-officio members.Executive committees will comprise up to 15 members, including two outstanding sportspersons and four women representatives."We live in an era of gender equality and the inclusion of women into administration is very, very positive. I think global sports has moved positively towards that direction and it is nice to see that the trickle down effect is happening in India as well and the act covers that aspect."A National Sports Board will be established to supervise all sports federations in India.The act has modified eligibility criteria for leadership positions in national federations, reducing the requirement from two terms to one term in the executive committee, making way for younger administrators and athlete-leaders.