Can India dream of hosting the Olympics someday?
Yes, the indication is definitely given the thumbs up – ‘we can’.
What we need is to focus on infrastructural development for providing proper environment for such a big event. Our country has resources and supplies that it needs to hold such sporting events.
We have successfully hosted IPL, ISL, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Cricket World Cup, many a times. Also we did FIFA World Cup U-17 as well. India is a country of Diversity.
There are lots of things that it can show to the world. Moreover, we don’t require infrastructural development for the whole nation. Some rapid development in few developed cities will satisfy the job, as it happened with Rio Olympics 2016. Whole Brazil was not developed to host the Olympics. Only Rio was developed and the ultimate parameters for Olympics.
And with the infrastructure, a nation also needs to send a satisfactory contingent for a medal hopes. India aims to strengthen the network by promoting mass participation and promotion of excellence in sports.
Khelo India is a part of the revamped National Programme for development of sports in 16 disciplines. Also this will act as an avenue for identification of budding sports talent to promote gender equity and social inclusiveness. It happens to be a watershed moment in the history of Indian sports as the programme aims at mainstreaming sport as a tool for individual, community, economic and national development.
The first annual competition Khelo India School Games (KISG) Under-17 held at New Delhi recently in collaboration with the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) and the National Sports Federations (NSFs). The importance of sports and fitness in one’s life is precious. Playing sports imprints team spirit develops strategic & analytical thinking, leadership skills, goal setting and risk taking. A fit and healthy individual leads to an equally healthy society and strong nation.
Khelo India School Games (KISG), which is a part of the Khelo India programme under-17 athletes had been invited to participate across 16 disciplines, namely Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Football, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Shooting, Swimming, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.
In the last few years India has made steady progress in the field of sports. This tremendous potential needs to be projected at a global platform. It’s time we inspire young talent to realise India becoming a sports super power.
The programme has been introduced to revitalize the sports culture in India at the grass-root level. Talented players identified in priority sports disciplines at various levels by the High-Powered Committee will be provided annual financial assistance of INR 5 Lakh per annum for 8 years.
An App based GIS information system has been developed to search for all aspects of sports promotion across the length and breadth of our country.
We should Join and support the Khelo India initiative to transform India into a global sporting powerhouse in the upcoming years. Should India follow Chinese success as sporting superpower? It has been interested significantly since 1990. The huge foundation during 2008 Beijing Olympics and peoples’ participation made it possible to create a massive billion dollar sports industry there. India must show to the world that it can deliver sporting ambitions by investing in the line with the goal. She should regularly put its bid to host international event.
In India, cricket is the most watched sport but the rise of other sports like Badminton, Boxing and Athletics have delighted the countrymen that there is much more beyond Cricket.
The stupendous success of shuttlers from PV Sindhu to Saina Nehwal on the global stage has brought world attention. Artistic gymnast Dipa Karmakar made history at the Rio Olympic. Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh turned professional with stupendous success.
The journey of Mary Kom is remarkable. PT Usha was one of the most iconic athletes of track and field. They have won from individual championships to world championships. But those success stories have not just come easily. The inspiring story of India’s rise in badminton world can be credited to Pulella Gopichand who has changed the face of the sport in our country. For him playing the national anthem at the podium is a big thing. There cannot be a bigger motivation than that.
Assam’s Emon Gogoi, Jitammrit Kashyap and Jyotishmaan Kalita from Khelo India are to represent Indian team for the participation of 17th Asian Cadet Junior U-21 Karate Championship in 10-13 May at Okinawa, Japan.
A pan India scholarship will also sponsor at least 1000 budding athletes across India from the current session. This will certainly beneficial for those athletics to compete with global events. Also it will focus on nurturing sports talent in the country and connecting rural India to global games. Now a Mizo girl is to represent Indian Women’s Hockey Team in South Korea tour.
The love for the sports is in abundance in this land. Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Mizoram are becoming India’s new football powerhouse. AIFF has realised that the heart and soul of Indian football is in the North East.
With no big sponsors for NE players, the government has to create infrastructure as well as national centre for excellence with elite facilities for this hilly region. We have to raise the aspiration levels of our kids to aim for Man United or Bayern Munich. When little known Jalandhar turns hub for sports good industries across India, can North East aspires for Sports Capital Region of India?
India’s economic growth is in the right direction. The potential corporate sponsors will certainly watch with the government’s promises. The rise of GDP and population can turn Indian sport into a multimillion dollar business in the future.
With right direction from Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, this will certainly harness the immense power of youth for holistic development of the individual, the community and the nation as well.
Kamal Baruah is a sports enthusiast and can be reached at [email protected]