On Monday, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that the Khelo India Scheme has identified 2781 athletes across 21 sports, including para-athletics, and is offering them essential support through the Khelo India Talent Development programme.

Talent Nurturing Through The Khelo India Talent Development Program

Mandaviya explained that the Khelo India Scheme is designed to identify and nurture young talent by supporting athletes across 21 sports, including para-athletics. The scheme follows specific guidelines and benchmarks to ensure the effective development of these athletes.

“To date, 2781 Khelo India Athletes (KIAs) have been identified under the scheme, receiving support in the form of coaching, equipment, medical care, and a monthly Out-of-Pocket Allowance (OPA),” he stated in a written response in the Lok Sabha.

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Training And Development At National Centres Of Excellence

The identified athletes, known as Khelo India Athletes (KIAs), are receiving specialized training at the National Centres of Excellence (NCoEs) under the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and other accredited academies. The scheme is contributing significantly to strengthening India’s sports talent pool and supporting the country’s growing success on the global stage.

Success Of Khelo India Athletes In International Competitions

Mandaviya also highlighted the success of KIAs in recent international competitions, providing a breakdown of their performances at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and the upcoming Paris Olympics.

2022 Asian Games: Out of the 644 Indian athletes who participated in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, 124 were KIAs. These athletes played a crucial role in India’s success, winning 42 of the country’s 106 medals, including 9 gold medals.

Paris 2024 Olympics: For the upcoming Paris Olympics, 28 KIAs will represent India as part of the 117-member contingent, showcasing the continued success of the program and its importance in enhancing India’s performance at global sporting events.

Promoting Rural And Indigenous Sports Under Khelo India

Mandaviya also emphasized the Khelo India Scheme’s commitment to promoting rural and indigenous/tribal games. The ‘Promotion of Rural and Indigenous/Tribal Games’ component aims to advance traditional sports across the country.

He outlined that traditional games such as Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta, Yogasana, and Silambam have been selected for promotion under this initiative. These games are featured in the annually organized Khelo India University/Youth Games.

The scheme also provides grants for the development of infrastructure, the procurement of equipment, the appointment of coaches, the training of coaches, and scholarships for athletes involved in these traditional sports.

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