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Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mansukh Mandaviya writes: The last 11 years have seen a transformation in sporting infrastructure
As we embark on our journey to become Viksit Bharat by 2047, one of the most powerful forces shaping this vision is the rise of Indian sports. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian sports is scaling new heights on the global stage. Recently, Indian athletes once again made the nation beam with pride through extraordinary performances on the global stage. At the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, the Indian contingent delivered a commanding performance, clinching 24 medals and smashing multiple national records along the way. Our women wrestlers scripted a golden chapter in history, returning from the Ulaanbaatar Open in Mongolia with a record-breaking 21 medals, their best-ever haul at a Ranking Series event. This success didn't come overnight. India won only 26 Olympic medals in the first 23 editions (including before Independence). But in the last three editions alone — 2016, 2020 and 2024 — India bagged 15 medals. In the Paralympics, from just eight medals between 1968 and 2012, India has now won 52 medals in the last three editions, including a record 29 medals in Paris 2024. These achievements are the result of a performance-driven ecosystem built over the last 11 years. PM Modi has brought a clear and focused vision that every athlete, regardless of background, deserves access to world-class training, infrastructure, financial support, athlete-centric governance, and a transparent system to thrive. At the heart of these reforms is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014 to identify and support top athletes. What began with 75 athletes has now grown to support 213 sportspersons for the Los Angeles 2028 cycle, including 52 para-athletes and 112 athletes under the development category. New schemes have also been introduced to support athletes in disciplines that have traditionally received less attention. The Target Asian Games Group (TAGG), introduced this year, supports 40 medal prospects in 10 disciplines such as fencing, cycling, equestrian, sailing, kayaking and canoeing, judo, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, and wushu. Driving this performance is a significant financial commitment. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports budget has more than tripled in the last decade, from Rs 1,219 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 3,794 crore in 2025-26. The Khelo India Scheme, launched in 2017 to develop grassroots infrastructure and promote year-round competition, has seen its budget increase to Rs 1,000 crore this year. National sports federations have also received unprecedented support. Financial assistance for hosting international tournaments and national championships has nearly doubled. Coaches' support has been revised upward by 50 per cent. Athlete dietary allowances have been increased to meet the demands of high-performance training. One of the most impactful reforms has been the emphasis on transparency. All federations must video record selection trials and publish selection criteria for major events two years in advance. This ensures fairness, builds trust among athletes, and keeps the system merit-based. Sports certificates are now issued through DigiLocker and linked to the National Sports Repository System, ensuring tamper-proof documentation. The Draft National Sports Policy 2024, along with the Draft National Sports Governance Bill, aim to strengthen the sports ecosystem and bring athlete welfare to the centre of policy making. Age fraud is being tackled through new medical checks and stricter penalties. Federations are also required to appoint Integrity Officers to ensure compliance. In addition to Olympic sports, traditional Indian sports like mallakhamb, kalaripayattu, yogasana, gatka and thang-ta are being revived and promoted through the Khelo India Games. Indigenous sports like Kabaddi and Kho-Kho are now receiving international recognition. The push for gender equity has also been significant. The ASMITA League (Achieving Sports Milestones by Inspiring Women Through Action), launched to promote women's participation in sports, has expanded rapidly: From just 840 women athletes in 2021-22, over 60,000 women across 26 sports participated in 2024–25. The ASMITA League connects these athletes to the Khelo India pathway. India's sports infrastructure has also expanded at an unprecedented scale in the last 11 years. From just 38 infrastructure projects before 2014, the number has now risen to 350. The Sports Authority of India currently runs 23 national centres of excellence, training elite athletes under TOPS and Khelo India. Additionally, 34 state centres of excellence have been established. The Khelo India Games have evolved into a national movement. Nineteen editions have been held so far —including Youth, University, Para, Winter, and Beach Games — with more than 56,000 athletes participating. The Khelo India Para Games, in particular, have been game-changing, with many athletes from these competitions going on to win medals at the Paralympics. Looking ahead, India is preparing for a potential bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympic Games. To support this vision, new verticals under Khelo India such as the School Games, Tribal Games, Northeast Games, Water Games, Martial Arts Games, and Swadeshi Games are being launched. The upcoming Khelo India School Games will play a pivotal role in bringing fresh talent into the sporting ecosystem. PM Modi's vision is for India to be among the top 10 sporting nations when we host the Olympics in 2036 and among the top five by the time we mark 100 years of Independence in 2047. Much has been done to fulfil this vision, but a lot remains to be achieved. India's sporting revolution today is a story of vision, resolve, and inclusive growth. With our youth at the heart of this transformation, and under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi, India is rising as a global sporting powerhouse. From medals to mindsets, the change is visible and the journey to Viksit Bharat is being powered by the spirit of sport. The writer is Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour and Employment
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Wrestling team for Ulaanbaatar Open named
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has named wrestlers for the Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series to be held in the Mongolian capital from May 29 to June 1. After missing two Ranking Series events, this is the first one of the season where the Indian wrestlers will be able to participate following the Sports Ministry's decision to revoke its suspension of the WFI. Men: Freestyle: Aman Sehrawat, Rahul (57kg), Udit (61kg), Rohit (65kg), Vishal Kaliraman (70kg), Jaideep (74kg), Amit (79kg), Ashish (86kg), Deepak Punia (92kg), Vicky (97kg), Dinesh (125kg); Greco Roman: Anil Mor (55kg), Suraj (60kg), Chetan (63kg), Neeraj (67kg), Ankit Gulia (72kg), Nishant Phogat (77kg), Prince (82kg), Karan Kamboj (87kg), Nitesh (97kg), Prem (130kg). Women: Neelam (50kg), Antim Panghal (53kg), Pushpa (55kg), Neha (57kg), Muskan (59kg), Manisha (62kg), Shiksha (65kg), Monika (68kg), Harshita (72kg), Reetika (76kg).
New Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Anshu urged to take part in selection trials for Mongolia Ranking Series
CHENNAI: Tokyo and Paris Olympian Anshu Malik has expressed her interest to compete in the Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series scheduled in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from May 29 to June 1. Anshu informed the TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) about her interest. Despite not meeting the eligibility criteria set for the aforementioned competition, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), in turn, has made an exception and urged the wrestler to earn her spot in the national team by taking part in the selection trials that's scheduled to be held at the IG Stadium, New Delhi, on Tuesday. As the 23-year-old — who is part of TOPS core group — hadn't taken part in the last selection trials which was held to pick the team for the Asian Championships, she is not eligible to take part in the Delhi trials, which will determine the participants for the third Ranking Series of the year. "She informed the TOPS but the chief coach of the women's team has urged her to book her spot in the national team by winning the 57kg selection trials," a source in the know of things told this daily. Anshu, a 2021 World Championships and 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, last represented India at the Paris Games in August 2024 where she lost to USA's Helen Louise Maroulis in the first round. Moreover, the upcoming trials will be held only in weight categories wherein the wrestlers didn't win medals in the continental championships. While the women's trials are in Delhi, the men's trials, both in Greco-Roman and freestyle, will be held in Lucknow on Monday. Indian men wrestlers had won five medals (two in GR and three in freestyle) at the Asian meet then. Similarly, the women wrestlers had returned with a haul of five medals at the event. Sunil Kumar (87kg) and Nitesh (97kg) had won a bronze each in GR while Udit (61kg silver), Deepak Punia (92kg silver) and Dinesh (125kg bronze) were the medallists in the freestyle. "Sunil is injured so now the trials will be held in nine weight categories in the GR. In the freestyle, trials will be organised in seven weight categories," added the source. Manisha clinched 62kg gold while Reetika returned with 76kg silver in the Asian event held in Amman, Jordan from March 25 to 20. Antim Panghal (53kg), Muskan (59kg) and Mansi Lather (68kg) had bagged a bronze each. "Apart from Anshu, Radhika has been allowed to compete in the 68kg as before the trials for the Asian Championships, she had submitted her medical certificate requesting to skip the competition. As Mansi is injured, she has been given permission." A total of 40 wrestlers (top 4 in each weight category) in every style have been camping at their respective centres after the Asian tournament. The WFI, along with Sports Authority of India (SAI), have chosen Lucknow for men wrestlers while the IG Stadium in New Delhi has been selected for the women's camp.
