New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday participated in the Khelo India Dialogue via video conference and called for wider participation in sports to harness India’s youth potential and build a Viksit Bharat.
With National Sports Day approaching on August 29, Modi paid tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and highlighted his contribution to India’s sporting legacy.
The Prime Minister said sports should not be viewed only through medals and victories. He described it as a means of developing discipline, resilience and confidence among young people. “Sports do not only teach us to become champions, but also teach us to become better competitors,” he said.
India must expand its Olympic sporting base
Modi noted that India has historically participated in only a limited number of Olympic disciplines and stressed the need to develop expertise in sports where the country has traditionally had little presence.
He pointed to India’s coastline and mountainous terrain as opportunities to promote sports such as surfing, sport climbing and winter sports.
The Prime Minister also called for an extensive national talent hunt among children aged 5 to 15 years, with selection based on interest and physical suitability for different disciplines, as part of preparations for the 2036 Olympics.
He said the government is developing sports universities, advanced training centres and international partnerships in sports science and coaching.
Calling for stronger grassroots participation, Modi urged schools and families to give sports greater importance. “Sports centres are more important than screens. Playgrounds are more important than PlayStations,” he said.
He also highlighted opportunities in sports technology, medicine, nutrition, psychology, analytics and equipment design, urging young people to explore careers across the expanding sports ecosystem.
