Budgam

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said India is expected to rank among the world’s top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and enter the top five by 2047.

Speaking after inaugurating a 30-bed Employees' State Insurance Corporation hospital at Ompora in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, Mandaviya said the Narendra Modi-led government had improved sports governance and created a more organised system.

He said young athletes are now receiving better opportunities to excel in sports, adding that the strengthened framework would help India rise significantly in global rankings over the next two decades.

Mandaviya also highlighted India’s growing ambitions in international sporting events. He said the country has secured hosting rights for the Commonwealth Games 2030 and has also submitted a bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics. Preparations are underway to meet the expectations of the International Olympic Committee, he added.

The minister said initiatives such as Fit India Movement and Khelo India have improved the sports ecosystem and opened more opportunities for the country’s youth.

On the healthcare project, Mandaviya said the new ESIC hospital, built at a cost of Rs 165 crore, will benefit more than 50,000 workers and their families by providing free treatment.

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He added that a nursing college would also be established at the facility in the future to train youth from Jammu and Kashmir.