PM Modi Credits Reforms and Support Programs for India’s Sporting Success

Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited the various reforms undertaken by the Union government and the support programs 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, Modi highlighted the transformative measures implemented by the government, including the Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), as examples of the support given to athletes. He mentioned that the government is working towards making India an important center of the global sports ecosystem and is diligently working towards the country hosting the Youth Olympics in 2029 and the Olympic Games in 2036. Modi emphasized that sports should contribute significantly to India’s aim of becoming the world’s third-largest economy.

Modi acknowledged the special place Tamil Nadu holds in India’s success in sports, mentioning notable athletes like the Amritraj brothers, Baskaran, Mariappan, Viswanathan Anand, and R. Praggnanandhaa hailing from the state. He expressed confidence in the athletes participating in the Khelo India Youth Games, stating that they will experience the warmth and hospitality of Tamil Nadu.

The opening ceremony of the Khelo India Youth Games featured the statue of Tiruvalluvar and ‘Veera Mangai’ Velu Nachiyar as the mascot, symbolizing women power and the government’s efforts to empower sportswomen. Modi concluded by stating that the government aims to make sports a significant career option for youth in schools and colleges.