Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, inaugurated the innovative Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) program with great fervor at the Sector 7 sports complex in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Aimed at school children aged nine to 18 years, this nationwide initiative has two primary objectives: to scout talent from all corners of the country and to leverage sports as a tool to combat addiction to drugs and other distractions.
On a radiant day, Shri Thakur emphasized that KIRTI was a vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to cultivate a sporting culture and nurture talent capable of winning medals for India on global platforms like the Olympics and Asian Games. KIRTI had a strong start across 50 centers in India, assessing fifty thousand applicants in the first phase across 10 sports, including athletics, boxing, wrestling, hockey, football, and wrestling. The program aims to conduct 20 lakh assessments nationwide throughout the year to identify talent through designated Talent Assessment Centers.
This scouting and training program, unprecedented in scale in India, comes at a time when the nation aspires to be a top 10 sports nation globally by 2036 and among the top five by 2047, as stated by Shri Thakur. Shri Thakur highlighted the pivotal role of youth in nation-building and stressed that to excel in sports, one must begin early. He emphasized that an athlete requires at least 10 years of preparation to clinch an Olympic medal. He encouraged every child interested in sports to register through the MyBharat portal, assuring that KIRTI would endeavor to reach out to them and provide opportunities.
KIRTI’s athlete-centric program stands out for its transparent selection methodology based on Information Technology. It utilizes data analytics and Artificial Intelligence to predict the athletic potential in aspiring athletes. Shri Thakur emphasized the need for strategic collaboration with National Sports Federations and state governments for a talent scouting system of this magnitude.
The event witnessed the presence of Member of Parliament from Chandigarh, Smt Kirron Kher, Shri Rajiv Verma, Advisor to the Chandigarh Administration, and rising javelin star Kishore Kumar Jena, among others. Smt Kher commended the KIRTI program, stating that it would provide a clear pathway for children aspiring to excel in sports. Numerous young athletes expressed their enthusiasm for the program, acknowledging the opportunities it presents for their training and development.
Kishore Kumar Jena, lauded the initiative, highlighting the importance of support at the grassroots level for athletes. He emphasized the need for nurturing talent from a young age. Shri Thakur reaffirmed India’s aspirations to host the Youth Olympics in 2030 and the Summer Olympics in 2036, emphasizing the role of sports in showcasing India’s soft power on the global stage. He emphasized the government’s commitment to facilitating ease of business in sports, prioritizing its development alongside his responsibilities as the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting.
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