Hamirpur

Former Union Sports Minister and Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur on Tuesday said the BJP-led central government has made sustained efforts over the past decade to upgrade sports infrastructure and training facilities across the country.

Addressing a gathering, Thakur said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sports has emerged as a national priority over the last 11 years. Emphasising the government’s commitment to athletes, he said it is the responsibility of the nation to ensure that sportspersons receive high-quality training and all necessary support.

“Our athletes represent India on the global stage, and it is our duty to provide them with the best possible facilities. The government has worked with a clear vision to place India among the top five sporting nations. By 2030, the country’s sports industry is expected to reach a valuation of nearly USD 120 billion,” he said.

Highlighting the rise in financial support, Thakur noted that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports once functioned with a budget of around Rs 800 crore. “Today, the ministry’s allocation stands at Rs 3,794.30 crore, reflecting the government’s seriousness towards sports development,” he added.

He also underlined initiatives aimed at promoting women’s participation in sports. Under the ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestones by Inspiring Women Through Action) programme, 20 sporting disciplines were covered through 766 competitions, drawing participation from over 83,000 female athletes nationwide.

Thakur further said the KIRTI (Khelo India Rising Talent Identification) scheme has been launched to identify and nurture young sporting talent between the ages of 9 and 18. So far, assessments of more than 1.8 lakh children have been conducted across the country.

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Referring to elite athlete development, he said the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014, currently supports around 1,050 athletes by providing them specialised training and assistance to excel at international events.