Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday credited the various reforms undertaken by the Union government and the support programmes it provided to the athletes in the last 10 years as the key reason for the successes the country has recorded in international sporting events such as the Tokyo Olympics, Asian Games, and Paralympics.
Inaugurating the sixth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai, he said though the sportspersons in the country were hardworking and passionate even before, they gained new confidence and support from the government at every step in the last 10 years. “In the last 10 years, the government reformed, the athletes performed, and the entire sports system transformed in India,” he said.
He cited Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) as examples of the many transformative measures implemented by the government. He said the government was providing all possible support to the athletes with the country’s eyes on the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. “Today, we are not waiting for youth to come to sports, we are taking sports to the youth,” he said.
Modi’s guarantee
Stating that the government has resolved to make the country an important centre of the global sports ecosystem, he said it was working diligently with the aim of India hosting the Youth Olympics in 2029 and the Olympic Games in 2036. Highlighting that sports was not just limited to the field, but also presents a huge economic opportunity, he said the country’s sports-related industry will be worth at least ₹1 lakh crore in a few years.
Emphasising that sports should contribute significantly to India’s aim of becoming the word’s third largest economy, he said the country should become self-reliant in the manufacture of sporting equipment. He said a better future for youth in schools and colleges who want a career in sports and related sector was “Modi’s guarantee”.
TN’s contribution
Mr. Modi said Tamil Nadu had a special place in country’s success in sports with champions like the Amritraj brothers in tennis, Baskaran in hockey, Paralympic champion Mariappan, and chess grandmasters like Viswanathan Anand, and R. Praggnanandhaa emerging from the State. He said he was sure that players from across the country who have come to Tamil Nadu for Khelo India Youth Games will rejoice in the warmth of the State’s people and their hospitality.
Performers during the Opening Ceremony of the Khelo India Youth Games at Jawaharlal Nehru Outdoor Stadium in Chennai on Friday. | Photo Credit: M. Vedhan
He said it was apt that the statue of Tiruvalluvar is used in this edition of the Games’ logo and ‘Veera Mangai’ (brave woman) Velu Nachiyar as the mascot. Stating that Velu Nachiyar, who fought against the British, symbolised women power, he said her personality was reflected in many decisions of the government to empower sportswomen.
Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur said the Khelo India initiative, the brainchild of Mr. Modi, has had a significant impact with as many as 41 medals in Asian Games 2023 attributable to the initiative.
