Hyderabad: The two-day Chintan Shivir on sports development concluded successfully in Hyderabad, with sports ministers from various states and Union Territories, along with key stakeholders, agreeing that a collaborative approach is essential for India’s bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics and improve its performance at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, who led the discussions, emphasized that the deliberations should not remain confined to conference rooms but should serve as a catalyst for realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. He highlighted the role of sports in nation-building and urged states to actively contribute to the mission.
The first day of the Chintan Shivir, held at Kanha Shanti Vanam, focused on sports development and governance, while the second day saw in-depth discussions on strengthening school sports, improving coaching standards, and enhancing athlete welfare. Stakeholders agreed that identifying sporting talent at an early stage is crucial, and a robust ecosystem must be in place to ensure that no potential talent is overlooked.
Dr. Mandaviya stressed that athletes are valuable assets to the nation, adding that the National Sports Repository System (NSRS) is being upgraded to enable close monitoring and systematic development of registered athletes. He emphasized that early talent identification and structured development pathways, starting at the district level, are key to securing a top-10 finish at the 2036 Olympics.
A major point of discussion was the reimagining of the National School Games as a competitive platform that offers young athletes exposure and a clear developmental trajectory. With over 15 lakh schools in India and nearly eight crore students, stakeholders saw immense potential in leveraging programs like NSRS and the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) initiative.
Another critical focus area was the coaching ecosystem. Participants explored ways to integrate former athletes into coaching roles, with discussions emphasizing the need for standardized qualifications and policies to ensure that the best coaches enter the system. Welfare measures and continuous skill development for coaches were also deliberated upon.
Dr. Mandaviya reiterated that athletes should be at the center of all developmental schemes. He urged states to maximize the use of Khelo India State Training Centres to train athletes for global competitions, ensuring that they have access to the best resources and mentorship.
Union Minister of State, Raksha Khadse, reaffirmed Dr. Mandaviya’s call for collective action, stressing that India’s Olympic aspirations depend on close coordination between states and the central government. “If we want to excel at the Olympics, we must work together,” she stated, urging states to adopt and implement each other’s best practices to strengthen their sporting frameworks.
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