Football is making excellent progress, ISL will be hosted again: Mandaviya
Hanol Village, August 9
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said Indian football is making "excellent progress" and added that the Indian Super League will be hosted again, while highlighting the government's plans to promote a strong academy culture across sports.
Speaking with ANI on the sidelines of the 85th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle, Mandaviya said new football clubs are also being formed as the sport continues to grow in the country.
"Football is making excellent progress. The ISL will be hosted again, and new football clubs are being formed," Mandaviya said.
"The government has also announced a package of Rs 36,000 crore, under which we have decided to promote an academy culture; academies for various disciplines will be encouraged. These academies will be run specifically by retired athletes," he added.
He said India's traditional sports will also be incorporated in the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Gujarat.
He said there were encouraging results from the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow.
"We have established a policy ensuring that selections are conducted through an open process-on-camera and in the presence of observers - thereby ensuring transparency and athlete satisfaction," he said.
The Minister said that 'Fit India: Sundays On Cycle' is getting enthusiastic participation in different parts of the country.
"I am delighted that the initiative has evolved into a major movement to advance the Prime Minister's Fit India Movement. Young people across more than 18,000 locations nationwide have conveyed a message through cycling," he said.
Last month, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved an expanded Khelo India Scheme and enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs) with a combined outlay of Rs.36,441 crore for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31, reaffirming the Government's commitment to harnessing the power of sports for youth development and nation-building.
The approved outlay is nearly eight times that of the previous Khelo India Scheme, reflecting the Government's commitment to making sports a cornerstone of youth development, nation-building and India's emergence as a global sporting powerhouse.
The revamped scheme is designed to create a seamless pathway for every talented young Indian--from school playgrounds and village sports fields to the Olympic podium. It seeks to ensure that no sporting talent is left undiscovered because of geography, economic background or lack of opportunity, an official release said.
Aligned with the vision of Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 and the National Education Policy 2020, the scheme integrates sports with education, fitness, technology and high-performance training while laying a strong foundation for India's long-term sporting ambitions, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the country's bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Rs 36,000 crore for sports is a massive jump! But the real test is implementation. We've seen big budgets before that didn't reach the athletes. The on-camera selection process sounds promising for transparency though. Yaar, I just want to see India qualify for a FIFA World Cup in my lifetime! 🤞⚽
Good to see India investing seriously in sports infrastructure. The academy model with retired athletes running them is smart - they have the experience and passion. That said, the proof will be in the medal tally at the 2030 CWG. Let's see if this translates to results or just stays on paper.
Fit India Sundays On Cycle is actually catching on! I've seen groups cycling every Sunday morning in my area. It's a small thing but it builds a fitness culture. For football specifically, the ISL has brought in professionalism. Just wish we had more football pitches in smaller towns - thats where the real talent is hiding.
The Rs 36,441 crore Khelo India expansion is ambitious, but I wonder about the accountability. Who tracks where this money goes? Transparency in selection is great, but we need monitoring at every level. Also, promoting traditional sports for the 2030 CWG is a nice touch - kabaddi and kho-kho deserve international visibility!
Accha initiative hai! But let's be honest - for years we've heard big promises about sports development. What changed? The on-camera selection is a step in the right direction. For football, we need to focus on age-group development. ISL is entertainment, but the national team needs
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