Addressing the Khelo India Dialogue through video conferencing today, Modi said sports is not limited to winning medals but is a mission to unite India’s sporting prowess and youth power in the building of a developed India. He said every district has the potential to shine on the global sports map.
The Prime Minister said he had announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort that a big talent hunt would be conducted to identify children between 5 and 15 years of age in sports. He stressed that the focus should not only be on the sport a child is interested in but also on identifying the sport they are best suited for. Modi assured that the government would provide all possible support for this initiative.
Modi also expressed happiness that sports has emerged as an excellent career and profession in India. He said sports does not merely teach individuals to become champions but also helps them become better competitors.
“The Khelo India Samvad is not merely a program for discussing sports, but it is a platform for dialogue where every single idea can give a new direction to the nation’s sports vision,” the Prime Minister said. He added that new ideas emerging from the power of the country’s youth would become the strength that helps realise the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, sports has emerged as a national priority and an important instrument of youth empowerment.
Mandaviya said India’s sports ecosystem is now moving beyond infrastructure and medals, with initiatives such as the Fit India Movement and Sunday on Cycle encouraging citizens to make fitness a part of everyday life.
The Minister said the National Sports Governance Act is promoting transparency and accountability and strengthening fair opportunities in sports so that talented sportspersons receive an equal platform to demonstrate their abilities. Dr Mandaviya said the government’s approach is aimed at making India’s youth active partners in the journey towards a Viksit Bharat.
The programme was organised as part of the National Sports Day 2026 celebrations by Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat). It was conducted across the country with participation from youth at two colleges in every district across States and Union Territories.
The event brought together sports, youth leadership, civic responsibility, volunteering, fitness and nation-building on a common platform. The Khelo India Dialogue provided a direct channel for young people to engage with the country’s sporting ambitions while ensuring that their ideas and perspectives become part of the continuing conversation on India’s youth and sports ecosystem.
The Khelo India Dialogue is being held in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building a fit, disciplined and sporting nation and placing the aspirations of youth at the centre of the national development agenda.
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