“Successful sports players are focused on their goal and overcome every obstacle in their path”
“By organising events like Khel Mahakumbh, MPs are shaping the future of the new generation”
“Saansad Khel Mahakumbh plays a key role in scouting and harnessing regional talent”
“Sports is getting due prestige in society”
“About 500 Olympics probables are being groomed under Target Olympics Podium Scheme”
“Efforts are also being made to provide national-level facilities at the local level”
“With yoga, your body will also be healthy and your mind will also be awake” Posted On: 18 JAN 2023 2:42PM by PIB Delhi
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the second phase of Saansad Khel Mahakumbh 2022-23 via video conferencing today. Saansad Khel Mahakumbh has been organised in Basti district by Shri Harish Dwivedi, Member of Parliament from Basti since 2021. The Khel Mahakumbh organises various competitions in both indoor and outdoor sports like wrestling, kabaddi, kho kho, basketball, football, hockey, volleyball, handball, chess, carrom, badminton, table tennis etc. Apart from these, competitions in essay writing, painting, rangoli making etc are also organised during the Khel Mahakumbh.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that Basti is the pious land of Maharishi Vashist which is made up of labour and meditation, asceticism and renunciation. Drawing an analogy to the life of a sports player filled with meditation and penance, the Prime Minister said that successful sports players are focused on their goal and overcome every obstacle in their path.
The Prime Minister appreciated the scale of Khel Mahakumbh and expressed hope that India’s traditional expertise in sports will get a new wing through such events. He informed that about 200 Parliamentarians have organised such Khel Mahakumbh in their constituencies. As Member of Parliament from Kashi, Shri Modi informed that such events are being organised in Varanasi also. “By organising such events, MPs are shaping the future of the new generation”, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister informed that through these games, performing athletes are being picked up for further training under the Sports Authority of India. The Prime Minister expressed happiness that about 40,000 athletes, three times more than the last year, are participating in the Khel Mahakumbh.
The Prime Minister expressed delight at witnessing a game of Kho Kho where our daughters of the land played the game with great skill, dexterity and team spirit. The Prime Minister congratulated everyone involved in the game and wished them the very best in their pursuit.
Highlighting the key aspect of girl’s participation in the Sansad Khel Mahakumbh, the Prime Minister expressed the belief that the daughters of Basti, Purvanchal, Uttar Pradesh and all over India will showcase their talent and skills on a global stage. Recalling the Women’s U-19 T20 Cricket World Cup, the Prime Minister highlighted the splendid achievement of the team captain Ms Shefali Verma who scored five consecutive boundaries and hit a six on the last ball, thereby accumulating 26 runs in one over. He remarked that such talent is available in every nook and corner of the country and the Saansad Khel Mahakumbh plays a key role in scouting and harnessing it.
The Prime Minister recalled the time when sports was considered an ‘extracurricular’ activity and was relegated to a hobby or activity without much value, a mentality that greatly harmed the country. This led to many talented sportspersons not achieving their potential.
In the last 8-9 years, the country has taken many initiatives to overcome this drawback and create a better environment for sports.
This has resulted in many more youngsters taking up sports as a career. Among the public also benefits like fitness, health, team bonding, tension relieving, professional success and personal improvement.
Throwing light on the thought process among people regarding sports, the Prime Minister said that the effects of change can be seen through the sports achievements of the country. The Prime Minister gave examples of the historic performance of the nation in the Olympics and Paralympics and remarked that India’s performance in various sports fields is becoming a point of discussion in the world.
Sports is getting due prestige in society, he said. This has resulted in unprecedented performance in the Olympics, Paralympics and other competitions.
“This is just the beginning, we have a long way to go”, the Prime Minister continued,.”Sports is skill and character, it is talent and resolve.”
Highlighting the importance of training in the development of sports, the Prime Minister suggested that sports competitions should be continued to give players a chance to test their training.
The Prime Minister explained that sports competitions at different levels and regions make the players aware of their potential thereby helping them develop their own techniques while also helping the coaches in identifying shortcomings and providing room for improvement.
Youth, University and Winter Games are giving many opportunities to athletes to keep improving. Through Khelo India financial assistance of 50,000 per month is also being provided to 2500 athletes. About 500 Olympics probables are being groomed under Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS).
Keeping in mind the need for international training, some players have received assistance from 2.5 crores to 7 crore.
The Prime Minister highlighted the role of the Central Government in overcoming the challenges faced by the sports sector and informed that special emphasis is being laid on ensuring adequate resources, training, technical knowledge, international exposure, and transparency in the selection of our players.
Noting the improvements in sports infrastructure in the region, the Prime Minister informed that stadiums are being built and coaches are being arranged in Basti and other such districts.
He also added that more than one thousand Khelo India district centres are being set up across the country out of which more than 750 of these centres have been completed. Geo-tagging of all playgrounds across the country is also being done so that players do not face any problems in getting training.
He informed that the Government has constructed a Sports University in Manipur for the youth of the North East and another Sports University is also being constructed in Meerut, UP.
Throwing light on the efforts of the state government, the Prime Minister noted that hostels are also being run in many districts of Uttar Pradesh to promote sports. “Efforts are also being made to provide national-level facilities at the local level”, Shri Modi added.
Shedding light on the importance of the Fit India Movement, the Prime Minister said that every player knows the importance of fitness. Suggesting to include Yoga in their daily lives, the Prime Minister said, “With yoga, your body will also be healthy and your mind will also be awake.
You will also get the benefit of this in your game.”
Observing that the year 2023 has been declared the International Year of Millets, the Prime Minister noted the huge role that millets can play in the nutrition of the players. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister expressed the belief that our youth will learn from sports and give energy to the country.
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath, and Member of Parliament, Shri Harish Dwivedi were present on the occasion among others.
The first phase of the Khel Mahakumbh was organised from 10th to 16th December 2022 and the second phase of the Khel Mahakumbh is scheduled from 18th to 28th January 2023.
The Khel Mahakumbh organises various competitions in both indoor and outdoor sports like wrestling, kabaddi, kho kho, basketball, football, hockey, volleyball, handball, chess, carrom, badminton, table tennis etc. Apart from these, competitions in essay writing, painting, rangoli making etc are also organised during the Khel Mahakumbh.
The Khel Mahakumbh is a novel initiative that provides an opportunity and a platform for the youth of District Basti and neighbouring areas to showcase their sporting talent, and motivates them to take sport as a career option. It also endeavours to inculcate the spirit of discipline, teamwork, healthy competition, self-confidence and nationalism among the youth of the region
Sports is an extremely important component for the overall development of our nation. India, in the last few years has made steady progress in the field of sports. This tremendous potential needs to be showcased at a global platform. It’s time we inspire young talent, give them top-notch infrastructure and training of the highest level. We need to inculcate a strong spirit of participation in sports that enables players to demonstrate their true potential. Only then can India realise its dream of becoming a sports super power. The Khelo India programme has been introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports played in our country and establish India as a great sporting nation.
The following verticals are implemented by Sports Authority of India - State Level Khelo India Centres, Annual Sports Competitions, Talent Search and Development, Sports for Women, Support to National/Regional/State Sports Academies, Promotion of Sports among persons with disabilities, Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games, Physical Fitness of School going Children. In addition, the following verticals are implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports - Play Field Development, Utilisation and Creation/ Upgradation of Sports Infrastructure and Sports for Peace and Development. The Community Coaching Development vertical is implemented by Lakshmi Bai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE).
Talented players identified in priority sports disciplines at various levels by the High-Powered Committee will be provided annual financial assistance of INR 5 lakh per annum for 8 years.
Khelo India School Games, which are a part of the Khelo India programme, are being held from 31st January to 8th February, 2018 in New Delhi. Under-17 athletes have been invited to participate across 16 disciplines, which are as follows: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Football, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Shooting, Swimming, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.
Join us and support the Khelo India initiative to transform India into a global sporting powerhouse in the upcoming years. The revamped Khelo India Dashboard was launched by the Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports on 23rd December, 2022 in New Delhi.
The dashboard is a one-stop shop for all statistical data on the flagship Khelo India scheme and Events, updated on a real-time basis. The dashboard, which is accessible to the citizens of the country, will serve as a platform for the citizens to be sensitized about various programs of the Khelo India scheme.
In order to improve India’s performance at Olympics and Paralympics, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) started the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) in September 2014. This was revamped in April 2018 to establish a technical support team for managing the TOPS athletes and providing holistic support.
The scheme is fully functional and has been extending all requisite support to probable athletes identified for the 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games including foreign training, international competition, equipment and coaching camp besides monthly stipend of Rs. 50,000/- for each athlete.
TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) is a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which is an attempt to provide assistance to India’s top athletes. The Scheme looks to add a premium to the preparations of these athletes so that they can win medals in the Olympics.The Scheme currently supports 104 TOPS Core Group athletes across 13 sports disciplines & Hockey (M & W) teams and 269 TOPS Development Group athletes across 12 sports disciplines.
In order to realize India’s Olympic medal dream, at the 2016 (Rio) and 2020 (Tokyo) Olympics, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) established the Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS or TOP Scheme) in September 2014.
To fulfill the objective of this scheme, a committee (TOPS Elite Athletes’ Identification Committee) was constituted to identify the elite athletes who could achieve the Olympic podium.The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is responsible for appointment of TOPS members with emphasis on ensuring representation from ‘High-Priority’ sports (Archery, Badminton, Boxing Hockey, Shooting and Wrestling).
The total members of the committee are to be decided by MYAS.TOPS constitution does not stipulate minimum/maximum members for the committee. The first committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Shri. Anurag Thakur (MP) and comprised of eminent athletes (Pulella Gopichand, Rahul Dravid, Abhinav Bindra, and Manisha Malhotra) and sports administrators from Sport Authority of India (SAI) and the MYAS [DG SAI and JS (Sports).
The Mission Olympic Cell is a dedicated body created to assist the athletes who are selected under the TOP SchemeThe MOC is under the Chairmanship of the Director General, Sports Authority (DG, SAI). The Committee meetings are attended by representatives of respective National Sports Federations (NSFs) and Project Officers of the SAI besides other members.The idea of the MOC is to debate, discuss and decide the processes and methods so that the athlete receives best assistance.The MOC also focuses on selection, exclusion and retention of athletes, coaches, training institutes that can receive TOPS assistance.Some of the functions that the MOC are enumerated below-
To approve customized programs for athletes chosen under the TOP Scheme.
To recommend financial disbursement for the customized programs.
To support, monitor and review progress of athletes in accordance with the training programs.
To take decisions on sudden and unanticipated requirements/needs of athletes.
To communicate regularly with the athletes on their progress, requirements and perspectives.
To engage implementation partner agencies to carry out/execute any or all the above functions.
To ensure documentation/contractual obligations of beneficiaries.
To deliver sponsor/commercial partner/media commitment under the NSDF TOP Scheme.
SELECTION AND REVIEW COMMITTEE The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) conducts a meeting every week in order to evaluate the proposals of the athletes. The Committee is also responsible for periodically conducting review of athlete’s progress and performances. Based on the Committee’s recommendation, athletes may be included, retained or excluded from the TOP Scheme.
With a view to provide additional impetus in the preparation of Olympic probable for Tokyo 2021, Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028, TOPS NCOE are being set up in 14 priority disciplines.
Erstwhile Jr. Campers are being inducted into these TOPS NCOE. Selection of athletes is being done in collaboration with the National Sport Federations (NSF).
The Sports Authority of India (SAI), a successor organization of the IXth Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1982, was set up as a Society registered under Societies Act, 1860 in pursuance of the Resolution No. 1-1/83/SAI dated 25th January 1984 of the Department of Sports, Govt. of India with the objective of promotion of Sports and Games as detailed in the Resolution.
In its endeavour to train athletes to achieve excellence in Olympics and other International Events, Sports Authority of India has established National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) across the country to impart specialized training to promising athletes by providing state of the art infrastructure and playing facilities, sports science backup, individualized diet prescribed by trained nutritionists and overall supervision under the best coaches, qualified support staff and High Performance Directors.
National Centres of Excellence operate as regular coaching camps for the best available talent in India and provide concurrent layers of prospective sports persons, giving a wider choice of talent and continuity for selection to National Teams and provide alternative second and third options too. NCoE is capable of accommodating elite to development athletes.
The STC scheme is aimed at grooming junior level sports persons in the age group of 10-18 years who have been scouted from grassroots.In order to establish and run SAI Centres, the State Governments provide all the infrastructure facilities, with SAI providing Boarding & Lodging to the selected trainees, scientific training/equipment support and minor current repairs of the infrastructure.
Facilities provided to the trainees include boarding, sports kit, stipend, competition exposure, education expenses, medical, insurance and others expenses.
Presently there are 67 STC Centers in the country having a total strength of more than 4800 trainees.
Make it possible for the Central Government and State Governments to work together for sports development efforts, through integration of various Schemes.
Correct existing regional imbalances in sports infrastructure in the Country and within a State
Enable SAI to nurture junior sports talent scientifically who had attained excellence at Sub Junior level under NSTC Scheme and induct them into the STCs/Centres of Excellence, for further scientific and in-depth coaching on a long term basis.
Provide package of assistance for sports infrastructure and undertake various sports programmes in particular areas.
Ensure maximum utilization of the facilities already existing/ to be created in a district/ zone to avoid a situation where sports infrastructure remains idle and also ensure proper maintenance of the same.
Ensure equitable distribution of the funds earmarked for various Plan Schemes of the Government of India and SAI.
Take the benefit of various Plan Schemes to the grass root levels for nurturing talent.
National Sports Talent Contest, (NSTC) Scheme is being implemented to scout sports talent in the age group of 8-14 years from schools and nurture them into future medal hopes by providing scientific training.
OBJECTIVES Under the Scheme, schools having good sports infrastructure and record of creditable sports performances are adopted by SAI. The Scheme enables the budding sportsperson to study and play in the same school. In addition to the main scheme of NSTC (launched 1985) wherein regular schools are adopted, a few distinct sub-schemes were launched to further reach out to sports talent in India, even those participating in indigenous sports and games. These sub-schemes of NSTC include
Regular Schools
Indigenous Games & Martial Arts (IGMA)
Akharas
FACILITIES PROVIDED Presently under the Scheme, selected trainees are admitted on non-residential basis. However as an exceptional case the trainees have been admitted in two schools on a residential basis and they are provided boarding & lodging facilities instead of stipend. At present there are 10 Regular adopted schools, 10 schools adopted to promote indigenous games/ martial arts and 49 adopted Akharas There are total of more than 1000 Trainees under the NSTC Scheme.
Fit India logoFIT INDIA Movement was launched on 29th August, 2019 by Honourable Prime Minister with a view to make fitness an integral part of our daily lives. The mission of the Movement is to bring about behavioural changes and move towards a more physically active lifestyle.
Towards achieving this mission, Fit India proposes to undertake various initiatives and conduct events to achieve the following objectives: To promote fitness as easy, fun and free.
To spread awareness on fitness and various physical activities that promote fitness through focused campaigns.
To encourage indigenous sports.
To make fitness reach every school, college/university, panchayat/village, etc.
To create a platform for citizens of India to share information, drive awareness and encourage sharing of personal fitness stories.