• Calls for wider participation in sporting disciplines to boost India’s medal tally
• Announces national talent hunt for children aged 5–15 years
• Says Khelo India providing young athletes platform and support to pursue dreams
New Delhi, Srinagar : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday outlined a long-term vision for building a stronger sporting ecosystem in India, calling for greater participation across disciplines and sustained efforts to harness the country’s sporting talent.
Addressing the Khelo India Samvaad through video conference as part of the National Sports Day 2026 celebrations, PM Modi interacted with youth and athletes connected from more than 5,000 institutes across the country.
National Sports Day is observed on August 29 every year to mark the birth anniversary of former Indian hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.
The Prime Minister said the role of sports extends beyond winning medals and is closely linked to youth development and nation-building.
“When I talk about sports, it isn’t just about winning medals; it is a campaign to integrate India’s sports power and youth energy to build a Viksit Bharat,” he said, reiterating his message that “those who play will blossom.”
Calling for India to expand its presence across global sporting disciplines, Modi said the country needed to focus on sports in which other nations were currently winning medals but India had limited participation.
“Other countries are winning medals in sports where India does not even participate; we must master these sports as well,” he said.
The Prime Minister said increasing India’s medal tally would require developing expertise across a wider range of sporting disciplines. He also outlined the country’s long-term preparations for the 2036 Olympics, with the aim of ensuring that more Indian athletes qualify and compete strongly across different events.
Modi also announced a large-scale national talent hunt targeting children between five and 15 years of age. He assured young participants that the government would provide the necessary support for the initiative.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, who joined the programme virtually from IIT Gandhinagar, said sports had emerged as a national priority under Modi’s leadership.
Mandaviya highlighted the Prime Minister’s engagement with athletes and said his support extended to sportspersons during both victories and defeats.
He also highlighted the reach of the MyBharat platform, stating that more than 2.4 crore youth had joined it and were contributing to nation-building alongside their careers.
The Sports Minister further underlined the importance of transparency, accountability and equal opportunity in sports governance, referring to the National Sports Governance Act as an effort to strengthen the system and ensure that sporting talent receives due recognition.
Following the Prime Minister’s address, Olympic medallist Gagan Narang and 2024 Paralympic bronze medallist Sheetal Devi shared their experiences with youth at IIT Gandhinagar.
Narang spoke about improvements in sports administration and access to equipment for athletes, while Sheetal Devi highlighted changing perceptions towards para-athletes and their growing contribution to India’s medal prospects.
Students of IIT Gandhinagar also presented their ideas around five themes highlighted during the programme—sports, Olympic aspirations, youth leadership, Viksit Bharat and NashaMuktYuva.
