One lakh budding young athletes will be identified within 100 days under KIRTI programme: Dr. Mandaviya

The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to sports, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India a global sports powerhouse.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, inaugurated the second phase of the KIRTI (Khelo India Rising Talent Identification) program today at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The event was attended by Member of Parliament Sh. Manoj Tiwari, eminent athletes, senior officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), and local school children from MCD.

Dr. Mandaviya addressed the audience, emphasizing India's vast diversity and talent pool. "India has always been rich in brainpower and talent. From our bustling cities to remote regions like the North-East, Coastal, Himalayan, and tribal areas, we have the potential to produce top-quality sportspersons. KIRTI aims to uncover and nurture these hidden talents," he said.

The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to sports, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India a global sports powerhouse. "Our efforts are reflected in the increased medal tally at international championships, including the Olympics. KIRTI serves as a vital platform to identify and develop high-performing athletes," Dr. Mandaviya added.

Addressing the young students present, Dr. Mandaviya encouraged them, stating, "Among you, there may be future Olympic champions. I commend your parents for supporting your sporting ambitions. Remember this day at the JLN Stadium; it may one day mark the beginning of your journey to Olympic glory."

The second phase of KIRTI aims to identify 100,000 young athletes within 100 days. "The program is designed to provide opportunities for all, regardless of their background or location," Dr. Mandaviya noted.

The KIRTI program marks the commencement of a nationwide talent hunt, aimed at making India one of the top five nations in the Olympic Games by 2047. This year, 28 of India's 117 athletes at the Paris Olympics have emerged from the Khelo India ecosystem, highlighting the program's success.

KIRTI's talent identification model integrates IT tools and global best practices to guide young athletes in choosing their career paths based on their abilities. The program's decentralized approach aims to achieve mass participation and sporting excellence. The immediate goal is to complete over 100,000 assessments within 100 days across 100 locations, with plans to scale up to 2 million assessments annually.

In Delhi, the Sports Authority of India, in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), will assess over 25,000 students from 12 zones. The assessments will focus on five major disciplines: Athletics, Football, Volleyball, Kabaddi, and Kho-Kho, over a period of 27 days.

The MCD's pilot project in 2022-23 had already seen successful sports camps for young students, and the KIRTI program will expand to include all 20 disciplines under the Khelo India scheme in its third phase.

Dr. Mandaviya's launch of KIRTI Phase II marks a significant step towards fostering and developing India's next generation of sporting talent.