Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi on ‘Khelo Bharat Niti 2025’ – ‘Villages, the poor and daughters are priority’ | More sports News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Sunday through his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio program about the newly introduced ‘Khelo Bharat Niti 2025’ (National Sports Policy 2025), highlighting how schools and colleges will integrate sports into daily life and support sports startups. The policy, approved by the Union Cabinet earlier in July, aims to transform India’s sporting landscape and make the country a global sporting powerhouse.“Villages, the poor and daughters are the priority of ‘Khelo Bharat Niti 2025’. Schools and colleges will now make sports a part of everyday life. Startups related to sports, whether they be sports management or manufacturing, will be helped in every way,” Modi said during his address.“I have received messages from many young athletes and their parents. In these, the ‘Khelo Bharat Niti 2025’ has been highly appreciated. The goal of this policy is clear – to make India a sporting superpower,” the Prime Minister stated.Modi emphasized the importance of self-reliance in sports equipment manufacturing, suggesting that the mission will strengthen when youngsters play with self-made equipment.“Sports create team spirit. This is the path to fitness, self-confidence and building a strong India. So play a lot, blossom a lot,” he added.The new policy replaces the National Sports Policy of 2001 and presents a strategic roadmap to establish India as a major contender in international sporting events, including the 2036 Olympic Games.The NSP 2025 was developed through extensive consultations with various stakeholders, including Central Ministries, NITI Aayog, State Governments, National Sports Federations, athletes, and domain experts.The policy focuses on excellence in global sports by strengthening programs from grassroots to elite levels, including early talent identification and nurturing.It aims to establish competitive leagues, develop sports infrastructure in both rural and urban areas, and create world-class systems for training, coaching, and athlete support.The policy also emphasizes the adoption of sports science, medicine, and technology to enhance athletic performance, along with training sports personnel, including coaches and support staff.NSP 2025 recognizes sports’ economic potential and aims to promote sports tourism while attracting major international events to India. It also focuses on strengthening the sports manufacturing ecosystem and encouraging private sector participation through various initiatives.
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During his address, Modi also praised the Indian contingent’s performance at the World Police and Fire Games in the USA, where they won 588 medals.Team India secured 280 gold medals at the 21st edition of the games held in Birmingham, Alabama from June 27 to July 6. India ranked third overall, following the USA with 1,354 medals and Brazil with 743 medals.Modi expressed enthusiasm about India hosting the 2029 edition of the tournament in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, stating that India will showcase its hospitality and sports culture to foreign athletes.The World Police and Fire Games is an Olympic-style competition for law enforcement, firefighters, and officers from corrections, probation, border protection, immigration, and customs offices worldwide. The biennial event features over 60 sports as official games.“Do you know which is the biggest sporting event other than the Olympics? The answer is – ‘World Police and Fire Games’… a sports tournament between policemen, firefighters, and security personnel from all over the world. This time, the tournament was held in America, and India created history in it. India won close to 600 medals. We reached the top three out of 71 countries. The hard work of those uniformed personnel who stand for the country day and night, paid off. These friends of ours are now holding the flag high in the sports field as well. I congratulate all the players and the coaching team,” Modi said.
