India, Dec 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25 underscored the critical role of grassroots sports initiatives in shaping India’s future champions, urging Members of Parliament and parents to actively identify and nurture young sporting talent as the country prepares for major global events like the Commonwealth Games 2030 and the Olympics 2036.
Addressing the finals of the Sansad Khel Mahotsav via video conferencing during the concluding programme in Junagadh, Gujarat, Modi said the scale and impact of the event have grown significantly over the years, particularly at the grassroots level.
Calling talent identification a shared responsibility, the Prime Minister appealed to elected representatives to take ownership of nurturing young athletes in their constituencies.
“I would like to tell all Members of Parliament that this is a great responsibility. Identify such talents in your constituencies who can shine at the national and international level, even at the Olympics, and provide them with all possible help and guidance,” he said.
Urging athletes to compete with a sense of national pride, Modi said sports today go beyond personal achievement.
“You are not playing just for your own victory. You are playing for the country, for the honour and respect of the tricolour,” he said.
The Prime Minister also made a strong appeal to parents to encourage sports from an early age, describing physical activity as essential for overall development.
“Sports is not just a part of learning; it is an essential condition for a healthy body and a healthy mind,” he added.
Modi interacted with young participants of the Sansad Khel Mahotsav, motivating them and wishing them success in future competitions.
Looking ahead, he highlighted India’s ambitions to host major international sporting events, calling them a golden opportunity for the country’s youth. He confirmed that India will host the Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad in 2030 and reiterated the nation’s bid to host the Olympic Games in 2036.
“The children who are 10 or 12 years old today will represent India in the 2036 Olympics. We must identify and nurture them right now,” he said.
Emphasising the expanding sports ecosystem in India, Modi said opportunities in sports are no longer limited to a privileged few.
“An ecosystem has been created where even a child from the poorest family can reach the pinnacle at a young age,” he noted.
The Sansad Khel Mahotsav has been organised across various Lok Sabha constituencies from September to December 25, 2025, allowing MPs to conduct sports events based on local needs. December 25, observed as Good Governance Day, marked the common national culmination, with the Prime Minister virtually addressing the combined closing ceremonies.
In Junagadh, the festival began on December 14 at the Sardar Patel Sports Complex in Porbandar and concluded with the finals at the District Level Sports Complex in Junagadh, in the presence of Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya.