Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore assured that the focus on the Khelo India Youth Games and schemes like Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) would not restrain the Ministry or the Sports Authority of India from lending support to genuine champions who may not be covered in any way.
“We will bridge the gap to ensure whatever support the government can provide reaches the genuine champions,” he told The Hindu here on Sunday, even as he pointed at the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) and the Welfare funds that were being granted to those in need.
Rathore was happy to mention the inclusion of tennis and table tennis to make it 18 disciplines in the Khelo India Youth Games.
“We had to be careful, while expanding the event. If the number of athletes goes over 10,000, it will be tough to put them in hotels etc. It is a challenge for us’’, said Rathore.
He also gave insight into the plans in the pipeline, by which there would be a talent hunt programme for eight-year-old boys and girls, across the country with a target of reaching about a crore youngsters, They would be put through various tests, starting at the school level, so as to assess their potential in sports.
“From one crore, we will screen the kids to about 20,000. After further tests like IQ test, DNA test etc., the number will be brought to 5,000 and eventually to 1000. These kids will be supported for eight years. By 16, they would have reached international standards,” Rathore said.
Television plays a huge role in the promotion of sports, and Rathore said that with 100 hours of live coverage on various platforms of Star Sports, Indian youth at the grass roots level would progress fast to higher standard.
Rathore stressed that playing was not just for excellence or entertainment, but was key to building the country in a better way.
