Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the northeast for its role in advancing the nation’s sporting heritage and urged the government ministries to take a different tack when it comes to sporting events today. In addition, the prime minister urged the ministries and ministers in charge of sports to concentrate on developing facilities and provide training that is centred on contests. PM Modi delivered his remarks through video conference to the ‘Chintan Shivir’ of State/UT Ministers of Youth Affairs and Sports in Imphal, Manipur.
“Northeast and Manipur have significantly contributed to taking forward the sports tradition of the country. Last year, the athletes of India, performed amazingly in so many international sports events. Along with celebrating their win, we also must think about how we can help them more,” PM Modi said while addressing on the occasion.
“The preparations of the Sports Ministry and its departments will be tested in events like Squash World Cup, Hockey Asian Champions Trophy, and Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship in the times to come. While players are preparing themselves, it is now time for the ministries to work with a different approach regarding sports tournaments,” he added.
The Prime Minister suggested the ministers to prepare goals for short, medium and long terms.
“Drawing the analogy of man-to-man marking in sports like football and hockey, the ministers need to carry out different strategies for each tournament and follow the approach of match-to-match marking. You have to focus on sports infrastructure, and sports training according to each tournament. The goals have to be decided on short-term, medium-term and long-term,” he said.
PM Modi also highlighted the need for the central and state governments to work in tandem with each other.
Talking about Khelo India Scheme, PM Modi said that it has improved sports infrastructure at the district level and urged to take the improvements to the block level.
The broad objectives of the Chintan Shivir are to focus to encourage creative and innovative thinking among secretariat personnel by putting forward their views and ideas on making the nation fitter and making India into one of the biggest sporting powers in the world.