New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India needs to expand its presence across Olympic disciplines if it wants to make a bigger impact at the Games, pointing out that the country currently does not compete in many of the sports on the Olympic programme.
Modi made the remarks while addressing athletes, students and volunteers participating in the Khelo India Dialogue through a virtual programme on Thursday.
The Prime Minister said India’s sporting ambitions should not be measured only by the number of medals won. According to him, sport should become a stronger part of the country’s broader development and nation-building efforts.
Highlighting the gap in India’s Olympic participation, Modi noted that the Games feature a wide range of sporting disciplines, but Indian athletes and teams are absent from many of them. He described this as a difficult reality that needs to change if the country is serious about improving its Olympic record.
The argument is straightforward: competing in more events creates more opportunities to identify talent and challenge for medals. For that to happen, athletes need access to training, facilities, qualified coaches and sustained support well before they reach the international stage.
The Prime Minister also underlined the importance of developing sports at the grassroots level. Initiatives such as Khelo India have been aimed at bringing more young people into organised sport while creating pathways for promising athletes to progress.
Modi’s comments suggest that India’s long-term sporting strategy cannot depend solely on disciplines where the country already has an established presence. Building expertise in a wider range of sports could help create a deeper and more diverse Olympic contingent.
At the same time, the Prime Minister stressed that the value of sports extends beyond the medal tally. Greater participation, he said, can help foster qualities among young people that contribute to the wider development of the nation.
India’s Olympic ambitions have grown considerably in recent years, but expanding the country’s competitive footprint remains a major challenge. Modi’s call for greater participation places that issue at the centre of the conversation as India looks to strengthen its position in global sport.
