New Khelo India scheme to expand sports opportunities in MP: Vishvas Sarang
Bhopal, Aug 26
Madhya Pradesh Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Vishvas Sarang said on Wednesday that the Centre's new Khelo India scheme, with an outlay of Rs 36,441 crore, would help expand sports facilities and provide more opportunities to young athletes in the state.
The Union Cabinet has approved the allocation for the scheme for 2026-27 to 2030-31, which is aimed at strengthening the athlete development system from the grassroots to the international level, Sarang said during an interaction with press.
The Minister shared that Madhya Pradesh currently has 11 sports academies covering 18 disciplines and 52 Khelo India centres and the state government would take all necessary steps to ensure effective implementation of the new scheme.
"The new Khelo India scheme offers significant opportunities for sports facilities and athletes in Madhya Pradesh. We will make every necessary effort to ensure its successful implementation in the state," Sarang said.
"For Madhya Pradesh, the scheme provides an opportunity to further strengthen the existing sports infrastructure and identify talent from villages, schools and local sporting centres," he added.
The Minister said the initiative would also promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle while contributing to India's long-term sporting ambitions and the goal of building a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.
Sarang also added that the scheme would strengthen the pathway for athletes by providing support from talent identification and training to competitions, advanced coaching, sports science, international exposure and Olympic preparation.
He said that schools and local sports grounds would remain important for identifying young talent, with Khelo India Feeder Schools and Khelo India Schools of Excellence expected to strengthen grassroots sports in the state.
The new 'Emerging Khelo India Athletes' (E-KIA) category would further widen the system for identifying and nurturing young sportspersons, the Minister added.
"The objective is no longer merely to discover talented athletes but to provide them continuous support through training, competition, sports science, coaching, international exposure and Olympic preparation," Sarang said.
— IANS
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