Independence Day 2026: India aims to be strong contender for 2036 Olympics, says PM Modi
We are launching a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to identify prospects in every corner of the country. They will get special training to become world class athletes, says Prime Minister Modi.
On the 80th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation, expressing India's ambition to be a strong contender for the 2036 Olympics. He announced that a nationwide talent hunt would be launched to identify sporting prospects aged 5 to 15. The government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014, has proven successful in supporting athletes and providing support in areas such as sports training, medicine, and nutrition.
Modi stressed that India should aim to compete in at least three-quarters of the 350 events in the Olympics, with a focus on disciplines like aquatics, cycling, rowing, and gymnastics. The talent hunt will utilize artificial intelligence for fitness battery tests to identify individual capabilities. Currently, the government's Khelo India Talent Development scheme identifies young sporting talent, providing training and pathways to elite sports schemes.
The Prime Minister also called for more international events to be held in India, with the Sports Ministry having already announced 11 competitions in the next six months.
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- 80th Independence Day: PM Modi’s 75-minute speech shortest in four years timesofindia.indiatimes.com
