Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse said progress in sports is an important aspect of nation-building as India works towards its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
The Union Minister, who arrived in Mizoram on a three-day visit visited the Sports Authority of India centre at Mission Veng. There, she met Mizoram Sports Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar, officials of the Sports Department and representatives of various sports organisations, who apprised her of their needs and concerns.
Speaking exclusively to Akashvani News, Khadse said the government is making every effort to promote sports as it is an important part of nation-building under the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ initiative. She said the government has launched Yuva Connect to enable sports to go hand in hand with education, with various programmes aimed at promoting sports being conducted in educational institutions.
The Union Minister said Mizoram is doing well in various sports disciplines and praised the state’s efforts to identify and nurture young talent. She said she would make every effort to promote development across different sports disciplines.
Khadse said young people are the vision of the nation and that the government gives them priority. She said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been taking steps to promote sports in India since 2014, with various developments taking place under the Khelo India programme.
She said efforts are being made through various initiatives to produce more successful athletes, including identifying talented children in cities as well as remote areas, and that many have already benefited from such programmes. She said women’s sporting talent is also being promoted, but much more remains to be done. Stressing the importance of a systematic approach to sports, she said the government is making every effort to provide athletes with greater strength and support, including through proper nutrition, and to build the infrastructure needed for the overall development of sports.
