PM announces nationwide talent hunt for 5-15-year-olds ahead of 2036 Olympics
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his Independence Day address in New Delhi to set an ambitious target for Indian sport, saying the country should aim to participate in every sporting event at the 2036 Olympics.
Modi also announced a nationwide talent identification programme aimed at finding children with sporting potential and giving them access to quality training, facilities and support as India builds towards its Olympic ambitions.
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“India is making space for itself in the world of sports. We hear our national anthem frequently and see our tri-colour going up very often. TOPS has achieved great success. Whether it is Khelo India Games, University Games, Beach Games, Winter Games, or sports training, sports medicine, sports nutrition, India is moving ahead at great pace,” PM Modi said in his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort in New Delhi.
“India’s performance is improving, and we are strong contenders to become an Olympic host in 2036. We are hosting the CWG in 2030. There are about 40 disciplines in Olympics, with nearly 350 events. It is sad that we are not able to even compete in at least two thirds of these events because we are not even able to qualify,” He added.
He said India needs to broaden its sporting base and ensure that athletes are prepared to compete across disciplines at the 2036 Games. The talent hunt is expected to form part of that wider effort to identify and develop athletes at a young age.
“We have decided that in 2036, we should participate in at least three fourth events. We are launching a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to identify prospects in every corner of the country. They will get special training to become world-class athletes,” he said.
2030 COMMONWEALTH GAMES
The announcement comes as India prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The formal handover took place during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Glasgow Games, with India set to stage the centenary edition of the event.
Ahmedabad will become only the second Indian city to host the Commonwealth Games after New Delhi staged the 2010 edition. The 2030 event is expected to feature major sporting disciplines alongside traditional Indian sports, with the broader aim of strengthening India’s medal prospects.
The Narendra Modi Stadium complex is among the major venues around which the Ahmedabad Games will be centred.
For India, the Commonwealth Games will provide another opportunity to develop sporting infrastructure, identify emerging talent and build a stronger pipeline of athletes ahead of the 2036 Olympics.
Modi’s call to compete across every Olympic discipline therefore adds another layer to India’s long-term sporting plans, with the focus now shifting towards identifying talent early and giving athletes the support required to compete at the highest level.
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