India sets its sights on global sporting power
For decades, ‘the sleeping giant’ has been the label most readily attached to India when it came to its sporting prowess. It was seen as a country that flexed its muscles in cricket, boasted a golden legacy in Olympic hockey and occasionally produced a sporting lodestar such as Leander Paes, Abhinav Bindra or Neeraj Chopra. All that may, however, be about to change as India looks single-mindedly…
India is poised to become a global sporting powerhouse in the coming decade, marking its 80th year of independence with ambitious plans to elevate its presence in international competitions. The Union Government has allocated a record Rs44.8 billion to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, a 18% increase year-on-year, to support sports infrastructure, elite athlete support programs, and training initiatives.
India has already secured the rights to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is a strong contender for the 2036 Olympics. Major sporting events like the BWF World Championships, first-ever World Athletics Championships, Youth Olympics, and Asian Games are also lined up in the coming years. Legendary athletes and officials such as P.T.
Usha, M.M. Somaya, and Joydeep Karmakar express confidence in India's sporting ecosystem, citing increased funding, Khelo India Mission, and the National Sports Governance Act as critical factors driving growth. While challenges remain, the Union Government's intent and investments signal a promising future for Indian sports.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
