New Delhi, August 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday welcomed the strong participation in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s virtual Khelo India Samvaad, saying the programme had effectively carried the message of sports, fitness and ambition to the country’s youth.
Modi addressed youngsters during the virtual interaction and emphasised the importance of sports and fitness, while outlining the government’s vision for strengthening India’s presence across Olympic disciplines.
“I was very pleased to see so many people attend the Prime Minister’s Khelo India Samvaad and with the way the programme was organised at Hindu College,” Rijiju told the media.
He said the key message from the Prime Minister was for athletes and young people to pursue their dreams and work towards their aspirations, adding that the government was committed to providing support to help youth advance in sports.
Rijiju also highlighted the Khelo India initiative, saying it was launched by the Modi government in 2014 and had since reached young people across the country.
Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also praised the programme and Modi’s initiatives in the sports sector. Referring to an event organised at NIFT Jodhpur, Shekhawat congratulated the institute’s director, NIFT family and My Bharat volunteers for its successful conduct.
He said initiatives such as Khelo India were aimed at encouraging young people to participate in sports and creating better opportunities for them.
During his address, Modi called for India to expand its participation across Olympic disciplines as part of preparations for the 2036 Olympics. He said the country needed to develop athletes in sports where it had traditionally had little or no representation.
Modi proposed a nationwide talent identification effort covering children aged five to 15, saying early identification and training in sports suited to their abilities would be crucial.
“The bitter truth is that India’s teams don’t participate in half of the sports that are a part of the Olympics,” Modi said, recalling the concern he had raised in his Independence Day address.
Citing the 2012 Olympics, he said India had participated in only 13 sports and had been absent from more than 20 disciplines.
The Prime Minister specifically mentioned surfing and sports climbing as disciplines where India could develop a stronger presence, noting the country’s diverse geographical landscape and the potential to increase its medal tally by expanding participation.
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