Narendra Modi Participates In Khelo India Samvad, Calls For Stronger Sports Culture

During his address, Prime Minister Modi brought up an important issue pertaining to Indian sports. According to him, the country has historically lagged behind in many Olympic events. For example, during the 2012 Olympics, India competed in just 13 types of sports. He emphasized that this way, the country is missing too many opportunities to obtain medals at the events.

Have you not been seeing a change in attitude when it comes to sports? pic.twitter.com/Eavv3ZsVOy

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 27, 2026

Narendra Modi stated that in order to upgrade India's standing in the global sports arena, India has to pay more attention to different sports disciplines. He explained that the nation has a long coastline and mountain massifs; therefore, it has a potential for such types of sports as surfing, climbing, and winter sports.

During the speech, PM Modi also suggested that the Indian government should develop a strict plan for locating the strong suits of various districts. At the same time, he talked about the necessity to create facilities for sports training in these districts.

The Prime Minister ended his speech by urging stakeholders to start working on identifying young talents for the 2036 Olympics straight away. He called for organising a nationwide program aimed at discovering promising children aged from 5 to 15 years. In particular, he insisted that the process of selection should consider both a child's interest and physical suitability for a particular sport.

PM Modi mentioned the Khelo India Samvad is more than just a conversation platform; he considers it a significant step in molding India's future sports landscape. He urged the youth to link their dreams with those of the broader country and brainstorm ideas that can improve sports policies and talent.

While discussing the topic of fitness and living healthy, PM Modi referred to Fauja Singh as a prime example of someone who lived fitness all his life. He also mentioned the importance of sports in helping young individuals fight against drug addiction.

The Prime Minister pointed out that sports is slowly but surely being recognized as a viable career option in India as seen from the growing interest among people in activities like triathlons, 5k and 10k races, hyrox, and pickleball.

He reminded that participation from bottom levels must be improved and asked schools and parents to prioritize physical education. According to him, there is nothing more important than the sports centers and playing grounds.

PM Modi finished his address by noting the increased job opportunities in sports domain. He urged youngsters to think about these areas and contribute to the nation through their ideas.