By Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
Team India’s achievements at the Paris Olympics 2024 indicates the overall improved performance of the Indian contingent. Besides the 6 medals, 8 of our athletes were placed in the 4th position and missed the podium finish just by a whisker. Five of them were competing in their maiden Olympics. As many as 15 athletes reached the quarter-finals of their competitions, which is also for the very first time for India.
This is the face of a new and buoyant India which was seen at the Paris Olympics. As many as 28 Khelo India athletes (KIAs) were a part of the 117-member contingent. More than 2700 athletes, including India’s youngest-ever Olympic medalist Aman Sehrawat and pistol shooter medalist Sarabjot Singh, are beneficiaries of the Khelo India programmme. Olympic double-medalist Manu Bhaker has won multiple medals from the Khelo India University Games 2022 while she was also a part of the first edition of the Khelo India School Games in 2018.
In recent years, India has made significant strides in nurturing its sporting talent, thanks in large parts to the ambitious Khelo India Programme. Launched in 2018, this initiative has become a game-changer for Indian sports. Perhaps the most significant impact of Khelo India is its role as a feeder system for India’s Olympic aspirations. By identifying talent early and providing sustained support, the program is creating a pipeline of athletes who are better prepared to compete at the international level. The results are already beginning to show, with several Khelo India athletes representing the country at major international events, including the Olympics. The programme’s holistic approach, which includes not just training but also funding for diet, nutrition, equipment and education with an annual scholarship of Rs 6.28 lakhs per athlete, is ensuring that India’s future Olympians are well-rounded athletes capable of handling the pressures of elite sport. In fact, we also have a total of 25 Khelo India athletes in Paris Paralympics out of a total contingent of 84 para-athletes.
In recent years, India has made significant strides in nurturing its sporting talent, thanks in large parts to the ambitious Khelo India Programme. Launched in 2018, this initiative has become a game-changer for Indian sports. Perhaps the most significant impact of Khelo India is its role as a feeder system for India’s Olympic aspirations. By identifying talent early and providing sustained support, the program is creating a pipeline of athletes who are better prepared to compete at the international level. The results are already beginning to show, with several Khelo India athletes representing the country at major international events, including the Olympics. The programme’s holistic approach, which includes not just training but also funding for diet, nutrition, equipment and education with an annual scholarship of Rs 6.28 lakhs per athlete, is ensuring that India’s future Olympians are well-rounded athletes capable of handling the pressures of elite sport. In fact, we also have a total of 25 Khelo India athletes in Paris Paralympics out of a total contingent of 84 para-athletes.