‘We Don’t Even Participate In Half Of Olympic Sports’: Modi’s Big Sports Vision

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for a major expansion of India's presence across Olympic disciplines, saying the country must compete in more sports if it wants to substantially improve its medal tally.

Addressing the Khelo India Dialogue virtually, Modi said India's sporting vision should go beyond medals and contribute to building a Viksit Bharat by harnessing the country's sporting and youth potential.

Calling it a "bitter truth", Modi said India does not participate in nearly half of the sports featured at the Olympics. At the Paris Olympics 2024, India competed in 16 of the 32 sports on the programme, leaving a significant portion of medal opportunities unexplored.

"We don't even compete for a huge chunk of the medal tally," he said, stressing that India must develop expertise in disciplines where it has traditionally had little presence.

Modi pointed to surfing and sport climbing, saying India's extensive coastline and mountainous terrain provide natural advantages. He also highlighted opportunities in water and winter sports and called for identifying districts where specialised sporting ecosystems can be developed.

With the 2036 Olympics in mind, the Prime Minister said preparations must begin now to identify and nurture future athletes. He reiterated his Independence Day announcement of a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15.

He said talent identification should not depend solely on a child's interest. Physical abilities and suitability for particular sports should also be assessed so that children receive specialised training from an early stage.

Modi said the government is working towards a modern sports ecosystem covering advanced training centres, sports universities, sports science, coaching, nutrition, medicine, psychology and analytics.

He also stressed sport's wider role in promoting fitness, discipline and resilience, while helping keep young people away from drugs and substance abuse.

Citing para-athletes such as Sheetal Devi, Avani Lekhara, Sumit Antil and Nitesh Kumar, Modi said sporting success can transform families and inspire communities.

He urged young Indians to make sport part of everyday life, saying India's sporting future will depend on stronger grassroots participation and wider opportunities across the sporting ecosystem.