DIMAPUR — Marking the nationwide talent hunt to boost India’s medal prospect at the Olympic Games by 2047, Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched the second phase of the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Friday.
With an aim to achieve twin objectives of mass participation and excellence in sports, the government has decided to identify one lakh budding young athletes within 100 days at 100 location, before scaling up to 20 lakh assessments within a year through the KIRTI programme, said an update from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Addressing the gathering comprising students, Dr. Mandaviya said: “India is full of diversity and potential. There has never been a shortage of brainpower, manpower, or talent in India. Not just the cities, but even in our far-flung areas like the North-East, Coastal, Himalayan and tribal areas can have a quality sportsperson there. KIRTI is aimed at spotting these talented athletes and develop their skills.”
It may be mentioned that Nagaland state under the Department of Youth Resources and Sports, had conducted assessment tests in Kohima from April 26 to May 1 at IG stadium, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India and North Eastern Regional Centre, Imphal (SAI NERC Imphal), during the first phase.
The sporting disciplines selected for Nagaland were archery, athletics, wrestling, boxing, and football, marking a significant step in identifying budding talents in the state.
During the first phase of KIRTI, out of 3,62,683 registrations across 70 centres, close to 51,000 assessments were done in 28 states and Union Territories. The ministry updated that, Maharashtra and Haryana, two states which have always done well in Khelo India meets, have had the maximum number of assessments at 9168 and 4820 respectively, followed Assam with 4703 assessments.
Evaluation of aspiring athletes was done in 11 disciplines – archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, football, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling, with maximum assessments in athletics (13,804) and football (13,483).