MoS Sports Raksha Khadse After Surprise Visit: 'Future Of India Lies With...'
Raksha Khadse visited the Sports Authority of India's Training Centre in Agartala to review facilities and interact with athletes under the 'Poorvottar Sampark Setu' initiative.
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Khadse, made an unannounced visit to the Sports Authority of India's Training Centre on Tuesday. The purpose of her visit was to review the facilities and interact with the athletes to better understand the challenges they face.
Khadse is currently touring Tripura as part of the government's 'Poorvottar Sampark Setu' initiative.
During her visit to the SAI-operated Sports Training Centre (STC), the Minister evaluated the training facilities, observed the coaches' work, and assessed the athletes' progress, as stated in a press release from the ministry.
She meticulously inspected the modern amenities and overall readiness of the STC centre, which is crucial to the region's sports landscape.
The SAI-STC centre in Agartala specialises in gymnastics.
Khadse's evaluation included a thorough inspection of the training equipment, the hostel facilities for athletes, their dietary provisions, and the medical and psychological support services. The centre was established through a collaboration with the local government.
Future Of India
'The future of India lies with these young individuals. The central government stands firmly with them, committed to their success," Khadse said after the inspection.
The 'Poorvottar Sampark Setu' initiative mandates Union ministers to engage directly with the public in the North-Eastern states to conduct on-ground reviews and address local issues effectively.
'North-East India is not just geographically, but also in terms of human skill, talent, and energy, the backbone of India's bright future," she said.
First Published:
June 24, 2025, 18:57 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Srinagar's Dal Lake To Host First-Ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival
The first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival is all set to reveal the iconic Dal Lake in a new avatar. Jammu and Kashmir's quest to emerge as a sporting destination will get a major boost when Dal Lake hosts the Water Games, its maiden major national-level Open competition, from August 21-23. More than 400 athletes from 36 states and Union Territories will be taking part in three medal events - rowing, kayaking and canoeing. The Union sports ministry's endeavour to promote sports activities in Jammu and Kashmir has already established Gulmarg as a top winter sports hub. The ski resort has already hosted five iterations of the Khelo India Winter Games, and now Dal Lake will be aspiring to become a water sports destination, as per a press release from SAI Media. For decades, Dal Lake has remained central to Kashmir tourism, art, and culture. With the hosting of the maiden Khelo India Water Sports Festival, the lake is ready to add to its credentials as a national treasure. The KIWSF is being jointly hosted by the Sports Authority of India and the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council. The Union sports ministry's national sports policy, the Khelo Bharat Niti, is giving new hope to athletes, coaches and the overall sports ecosystem. The policy will not only enable promotion of sports but also bolster commercial benefits for stakeholders associated with the ecosystem. Particularly, the House Boats owners are really looking forward to the Games. "This is not just an event--it is the beginning of a new era for water sports in our country. On behalf of all athletes, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sports minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, and the entire Khelo India team for making water sports a priority and giving it the recognition it truly deserves," said Bilquis Mir, a well-known name in the world of canoeing and kayaking and an Olympic judge. The Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 will also showcase three demonstration events -- water skiing, dragon boat race, and the crowd-favorite shikara sprint. This has generated enthusiasm both among the segments of society around Dal Lake as well as water sports athletes. But there are bigger aspirations lurking around the KIWSF. For example, Mohsin Ali, a young water sports athlete, is preparing to participate in the kayaking event. He is a J-K state champion and has won 15 medals, including three gold medals at the national events. Ali, like many others, is training hard. "I am hopeful of fetching a gold medal at these games that we are hosting," he said. "When I started paddling here as a 10-year-old in the 1990s, I dreamt of one day representing India. That dream came true when I became the first woman from India to participate in a World Cup," says Biquis Mir, adding, "I am confident that this event will be thrilling and will serve as a great inspiration for our young athletes who dream of representing India on the biggest stage." There are more voices that see the water sports festival as a game-changer. Muhammad Imtiyaz, a water sports coach, said: "It was the Khelo India Winter Sports Games that turned Gulmarg into the winter sports hub in the country. Similarly, Khelo India Water Sports Festival will bring Jammu and Kashmir into the consciousness of the water sports athletes across the country," he said. For Dal Lake, the festival is both a sporting milestone and a civic statement. The lake is a living water body, which is protected, managed, and celebrated as central to culture, livelihoods, ecology, and water sports. The different government agencies have also stepped up the lake management with activities like deweeding to meet the demands of both ecology and the event. Dal's cultural signatures have been woven into the Khelo India Water Sports Festival's design language, with the mascot featuring the Himalayan Kingfisher, a bird that can be found looking for its prey in the waters of Dal Lake, and the logo featuring a Shikara on the Dal Lake. Muhammad Rafiq Malla, a Shikarawalla who ferries tourists in his boat and is himself a water sports athlete, is excited about the Khelo India Water Sports Festival. "The Khelo India Water Sports Festival will not only offer opportunities to sports enthusiasts but also to people living in Dal Lake like me," he said. "While I would love to watch the young water sports athletes coming from all over the country to participate in the Khelo India Water Sports Festival in Dal Lake, I would also like to see these athletes enjoy their visit in Jammu and Kashmir and explore the Dal Lake's vibrant interiors, watch Dal dwellers carry lotus flowers and vegetables from floating gardens in their wicker baskets and be mesmerized by the Zabarwan range," added Mall. The first Khelo India water sports carnival is set to broaden the Khelo India footprint beyond stadium sports into landscapes like mountains in Gulmarg, coastal beaches in Diu, and now highland lakes in Jammu and Kashmir. So, when sports athletes and officials from all over the country step into Dal Lake to participate in the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025, they will step not just into a sporting arena but also into an amphitheatre that will promote the lake as a national asset.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Heavy lifts to heavy locks: Sports Authority of India's weightlifting and athletics hub in Ludhiana weighed down by neglect.
Ludhiana: Once a cradle of champions, the Sports Authority of India's local training centre now lies under lock and key, with its flagship disciplines of athletics and weightlifting scrapped and its track and gym deserted. The facility, which produced national and international stars including Asian Games gold medallist triple jumper Arpinder Singh, has been left hollowed out by years of neglect and shrinking resources. Former athletics coach and 2018 Dronacharya Award winner Sukhdev Singh Pannu, who trained Arpinder Singh, condemned the decision to shut down disciplines that had put Ludhiana on the sporting map. "This centre still has the potential to produce medal-winners," he said, adding he had written repeatedly to authorities urging restoration of athletics but received little response. Harbans Singh, a former weightlifting coach and SAI administrator, echoed that frustration. The centre, he said, had not only produced athletes but also served society by shaping disciplined police and service personnel. "This legacy should continue, not be abandoned," he said. Both retired coaches argued that lack of inspections, coaching staff shortages, and outdated facilities accelerated the decline. They called for urgent investment in modern training programs, recovery methods and better equipment to revive the centre. Pushkar Singh, assistant director of SAI, said efforts were under way to secure resources. "These disciplines will return very soon, once we have the necessary support," he said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
News18
2 days ago
- News18
Manchester United To Leave Out Rs 870 Crore Striker Out Of Squad Vs Arsenal
Last Updated: Manchester United will reportedly leave out Rasmus Hojlund for their Premier League opener against Arsenal amid interest from AC Milan. Manchester United will reportedly leave out 22-year-old centre forward Rasmus Hojlund for their Premier League 2025-26 opener against Arsenal on Sunday (August 17). According to The Athletic, he has been told by manager Ruben Amorim that his minutes this year would be limited. This comes in light of United signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in a deal worth up to £73.7million (Rs. 874 crore). They also have Joshua Zirkzee for the number nine role, while two further new signings, Bryan Mbuemo and Matheus Cunha, could play the false-nine role as well. Hojlund is subject to good interest from some clubs across Europe, with discussions with Italian giants AC Milan and RB Leipzig reportedly being the most advanced. However, the youngster's camp has remained adamant that he wants to stay in Manchester and fight for his place. The report described his off-field attitude as being of 'commitment and professionalism' during this time. The Red Devils are set to be looking to offload Hojlund, and are open to both a permanent transfer and a loan arrangement. But they'll be unable to recoup what they spent on him. He was signed for around £73 million, which is, interestingly, not too different from Sesko's. Hojlund's time at Old Trafford has been one of inconsistency and flashes of brilliance combined with big, bad patches for an overall 26 goals in 95 games. 'It's an additional option [to play him]. We'll see. We're focused on the match, and Rasmus is still our player," he said ahead of the game against Arsenal. It remains to be seen if Sesko will start or play any part in the game against the North-Londoners, who were reported to be huge admirers of him at the start of the window. Amorim has been effusive in his praise for the Slovenian's qualities before. 'The guy is always thinking about football," Amorim said recently. 'He's really obsessed by that and that is a good thing because you don't have to think about that aspect with that young guy. I don't need to tell Ben, 'this is Manchester United, a lot of pressure, you have to perform, you need to be ready for the physicality, we need to be ready for every game, it's like do-or-die'. With that guy, I have not that concern. I have the opposite, [he needs to] enjoy [himself] a little bit!" view comments First Published: August 17, 2025, 18:22 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
