PM Narendra Modi: Identify talent among 5-15-year-olds; India absent from two-third Olympic events

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for a nationwide talent-hunt campaign to identify sporting talent among children aged five to 15, saying India must start preparing now for its ambition to host and compete strongly at the 2036 Olympics.

“I have always said, ‘Jo Khele, Woh Khile’—those who play, flourish,” Modi said in his Independence Day address at the Mughal-era Red Fort, asserting that India was now establishing its place in the world of sports.

“The Indian national anthem is now heard on sporting podiums. India's Tricolour is seen flying,” he said.

Modi highlighted the success of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and said the Khelo India Games, University Games, Winter Games and Beach Games, along with sports infrastructure, coaching, sports medicine and sports nutrition, were helping India move towards mastering the field.

He also pointed to opportunities in the wider sporting ecosystem for young people who may not themselves become athletes.

“For young people, even if they cannot become athletes, a huge new field is opening up in the support system around sport,” he said.

Modi said India's performance in sports was improving and the country was moving forward as a strong contender to host the 2036 Olympics. He also noted that India would host the Commonwealth Games in 2030.

However, he drew attention to India's limited participation across Olympic disciplines.

“The Olympic Games held around the world have around 40 types of sports and approximately 325–350 events,” Modi said.

“You will be saddened to know this, my countrymen,” he added, pointing out that India does not participate in nearly two-thirds of the around 325 events.

“We are not present; we do not qualify,” he said.

Modi said India had decided that it wanted the 2036 Olympics to be held in the country, but stressed that preparation had to begin much earlier.

“But in 2036, in the disciplines where India does not currently compete, where India does not qualify, and in the events that India has left aside, three-fourths of the opportunities are waiting for us. India will focus on them,” he said.

For this, he announced a talent-hunt campaign aimed at identifying sporting talent at the grassroots level.

“If we need athletes for 2036, we must focus today on youngsters who are five, 10 or 15 years old. We must focus on these boys and girls,” Modi said.

He said the campaign would be conducted “from village to village, city to city and school to school” to identify sporting talent among children aged five to 15.

“Their talent will be assessed, and they will then be given special training to become good athletes who can compete for the country,” he said.

The Prime Minister's call effectively places young athletes at the centre of India's long-term preparation for the 2036 Olympics, with the focus on identifying talent early and providing specialised training to expand India's presence across sporting disciplines.

Tags : Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Independence Day, Red Fort, Olympic Games, address, Tricolour