&w=3840&q=100)
Govt begins 2036 Olympics prep, India to be in top 5 in medal tally: Shah
Addressing an event where the Indian contingent participating in the 21st World Police and Fire Games-2025 were felicitated, Shah said India is going to bid for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games and has already submitted a bid for the Commonwealth Games and has again submitted a bid to host the Asian Games.
He said the purpose of hosting these events in India is to make sports a natural part of the lives of the country's people and different sections, such as the police and fire brigade.
"A large number of new sports infrastructures have been developed. Under the TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme), around 3,000 athletes are being supported with a monthly stipend of Rs 50,000 to prepare for the 2036 Olympic Games," he said.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sports has been given great importance in the last 10 years.
Shah said the Fit India Movement has also positively impacted the athlete selection process, resulting in a threefold increase in the number of medals won in the Olympics, Paralympics and Asian Games.
He said that victory and defeat are the eternal cycle of life and setting the goal to win, planning for victory should be everyone's "nature" and winning should be the habit.
The home minister said those who cultivate the habit of winning always perform exceptionally.
Shah said the Modi government is making arrangements to take sports to every village.
The selection and training of children from different age groups in every sport are being done scientifically, he said.
Shah said every police officer's routine should be such that the day begins with a parade with subordinate staff in the morning and ends with sports in the evening.
"If all police personnel develop a habit of regular sports, it will not only relieve stress, but also improve the quality of work," he said.
The home minister said all police forces that are part of the 'All India Police Sports Control Board' should aim to win at least three medals each.
"If we achieve this goal, the record you have set this year will be surpassed by you at the World Police and Fire Games to be held in Gujarat in 2029," he said.
He said the success of the police personnel who participated in the World Police and Fire Games 2025 should be celebrated and the people should also receive accurate information about it.
Shah said that just as Arjuna could only see his target -- the eye of a bird -- similarly, all police officers and athletes connected to sports must aim for the World Police and Fire Games 2029 and move forward.
These games will take place in 2029 in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Kevadia, he said.
The home minister said that as India progresses on the global sports stage, the country's athletes must perform in a way that sparks worldwide discussions about the immense potential of sports in India.
He said he is fully confident that India will be among the top five medal-winning countries in the 2036 Olympics.
Shah said the proposed National Sports Bill provides for recognition of police forces at the state level, so that every police force can participate in the National Games as a unit.
Last year, the Union home ministry took several initiatives like changes in recruitment rules for talent identification, formation of 25 outdoor sports teams in each force and a joint team of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), he said.
The home minister expressed happiness over the Indian contingent winning 613 medals at the 21st World Police and Fire Games and congratulated the police and fire services team for their excellent performance and for making the country proud.
Sports should be an integral part of life, he said, adding a child who does not play becomes discouraged by defeat, and a child who does not resolve to win after losing never develops the habit of winning.
"There is only one place to learn the ground, the playing field and it is on the playing field that the habit of accepting defeat and the passion to achieve victory are developed," he said, adding gradually this attitude should develop among our youth.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Ravi Dahiya resumes training after surgery, says 'Hopeful of making it to LA 2028 Olympics'
Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Ravi Kumar Dahiya has revealed that he has resumed training after a successful surgery and is now hopeful of making it to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Dahiya sustained an injury during a practice bout at the Chhatrasal Stadium in February 2023. Scans revealed grade 2 tears on his right knee in Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) and Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). "I've resumed training after my surgery. It was unfortunate to miss the Paris Olympics due to injury, but I'm hopeful of making it to Los Angeles. Fingers crossed," Dahiya told IANS. He was last seen in action at the 2022 World Championships in Belgrade in September. The Birmingham Commonwealth Games champion lost in the first round to Uzbekistan's Gulomjon Abdullaev in the 57kg category. The 27-year-old wrestler believes the new sports policy - 'Mukhyamantri Khel Protsahan Yojana' headed by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta - will boost the confidence of players and athletes across the national capital. 'The new sports policy of the Delhi Government is very impressive. It will benefit athletes at the grassroots level. There will be improved infrastructure and increased prize money for Delhi athletes. This will boost the confidence of players across the city,' he added. The new policy has increased incentives for athletes across all levels. Olympic and Paralympic medal winners now receive more than twice the previous remuneration. Also, depending on their performance, the state will provide top medal winners with secure government employment in Group A, B, or C positions in addition to financial incentives. By providing more funding for training, nutrition, and grassroots involvement, the program seeks to empower young people, keep athletic potential in Delhi, and advance the growth of sports more broadly. Dahiya recently decided to move up in the weight category to improve his chances of prolonging his career and aim for a medal in the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. While the next Olympic weight category for the LA Olympics 2028 is 65kg, Dahiya has been in and out of competitions in the past few years due to injuries and has been competing in the non-Olympic 61kg weight category.
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Taxed into the pit lane: Why India's Formula 1 dream ran out of track
More than a decade ago, India tasted the thrill of Formula 1 (F1) racing. For three unforgettable years, the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida came alive with the roar of engines, the blur of cars hurtling down the straights, and the electricity of 90,000 fans on their Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, and Michael Schumacher—some of the biggest names in motorsport—raced on Indian soil, waving to Indian crowds. It wasn't just a sporting event. It was a statement. A belief that India could take its place on the global F1 calendar and stay then, it was over. No farewell, no countdown, no final lap. Formula 1 vanished from the Indian grid, leaving behind silence and a track that never got to fulfil its promise. (Photo: AFP) Why did Formula 1 vanish from India? The answer lies not in track design or lack of fanfare, but in a tangled web of taxes, red tape, and regulatory confusion.F1 IS A COSTLY AFFAIROrganising a Formula 1 race isn't cheap. Building an F1-grade racing circuit can cost anywhere between $200 million to over $1 billion. But that's just the beginning. Each race weekend brings additional expenses like pit lane facilities, hospitality centres, media rooms, security, road upgrades and staging a single F1 weekend can cost approximately Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,250 crore. Such costs are often shared by race organisers, sponsors and national or state India's case, while the infrastructure was put in place and the race was held successfully for three years, government support was limited. (Photo: AFP) This, experts believe, became a major roadblock for the event's long-term AS 'ENTERTAINMENT'One of the biggest issues that led to the early exit of F1 from India was to tax expert Dr Suresh Surana, 'Formula 1 was classified as 'entertainment' and not 'sport' for tax purposes in India because Indian tax authorities and courts determined that the event did not fit within the specific statutory exemptions or favourable tax treatments available to 'sporting events'.'This meant the race organisers had to pay entertainment tax on ticket sales and business income tax, making it more expensive to host the event. In 2011, the Supreme Court ordered Jaypee Sports International, the company responsible for the circuit, to deposit the entertainment tax amount in a separate account before the race could take place. (Photo: AFP) 'The Supreme Court did not allow the exemption to be operative pending the dispute's final resolution, meaning the Grand Prix was treated as an entertainment event for taxation. This meant that earnings from the event did not qualify for sport-related tax exemptions or benefits,' said Dr entertainment tax law in Uttar Pradesh at the time did not list car racing as a sport eligible for any kind of exemption. Instead, it included traditional cultural or performing arts. This interpretation of F1 as a leisure event instead of a sport added to the financial strain on OF SUPPORTBecause F1 was not officially treated as a sport, it missed out on government support like infrastructure grants, subsidies, or administrative help that other international events such as the Commonwealth Games received.'The classification of the Formula One Grand Prix as an 'entertainment event' rather than a 'sporting event' meant that it was subjected to state-level entertainment taxes. This denied the organisers access to tax exemptions and concessions typically available to sports events of international repute,' said Dr Surana. (Photo: AFP) advertisementHe added that the high capital investment, lack of tax relief, and limited number of races made it hard for the Indian Grand Prix to remain viable over time. With no recognition, tax exemptions, or long-term policy support, the event could not IT BE DIFFERENT UNDER GST?With India now under a new Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, there may be a better chance for F1 to make a comeback. The earlier system of state-level entertainment taxes has been removed, replaced by a single nationwide tax.'If Formula One were to be reintroduced in India, the current tax environment particularly after the implementation of GST may offer a more favourable framework,' Dr Surana said. 'The GST system provides a unified tax structure with moderate rates and the benefit of input tax credit, which may help reduce the overall tax burden.' (Photo: AFP) advertisementHe also mentioned that compliance under GST is simpler and more transparent, which could improve the financial and operational setup for hosting an international event like F1. However, Dr Surana cautioned that the exact impact of GST would still need deeper analysis based on how the event is tax problems were a big reason behind F1's exit, there were other challenges too. Lack of long-term vision, unclear policy support, and poor coordination between different departments and stakeholders made it difficult for India to remain on the F1 may have fixed the tax roadblock with GST, but only clear policy can steer Formula 1 back on track in India.- EndsMust Watch
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Four-time Olympic gold-medal winner Léon Marchand is back and chasing more world records
Léon Marchand's life changed drastically after he won four gold medals a year ago in the Paris Olympics. He was a national hero and had to adjust — particularly when he was at home in France. 'I have to plan things,' Marchand explained on Saturday. 'I can't just go on my own in the city and just go get bread. I know how to say 'no' better,' he added. 'It gets a lot more peaceful when I travel out of France.' After swimming under the tutelage of Bob Bowman at the University of Texas at Austin, Marchand is back and will head the field at the swimming world championships — the biggest meet since the Olympics. It's also the stepping stone for many toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics with races in the pool starting on Sunday and running through August 3. Marchand, Canada's Summer McIntosh, and Katie Ledecky of the United States were the stars in Paris. They'll be the swimmers to watch in Singapore, joined by a host of Olympians and younger swimmers who hope to be in Los Angeles in three years. The youngest in the field is 12-year-old Yu Zidi of China, who could be a medal contender in her three races with times — and youth — that are shocking global swimming. Marchand will swim only the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medleys and some team relays, opting out of his other gold-medal events in Paris — the 200 butterfly and 200 breaststroke. 'This is a transition year for me, so I wanted to have a lighter schedule than usual,' Marchand said. 'I'm really excited to do just less than usual, you know, just to see how far I can go, how fast I can go.' Marchand will be after the 200 IM record set in 2011 by American Ryan Lochte — 1 minute, 54.00 seconds. He'll also try to break his own 400 IM record (4:02.50) set at the 2023 worlds in Fukuoka, Japan. He credits Bowman — famous for coaching Michael Phelps to 23 Olympic gold medals — for pushing him at Texas. Bowman tutors an international cast of swimmers that this fall will also include McIntosh. 'He knows how to be calm in every situation,' Marchand said of Bowman. 'I think he taught us throughout the years. He also had a lot of experience on the biggest stage, so I trust him fully.' Without the stress of two extra races, Marchand is ready to make more history. 'Of course I want to break all the records,' he said. 'I don't know when that's going to happen.' Many are expecting it in Singapore.
