India’s Sports Ambitions Boosted by New Talent Identification Programme

In a landmark address from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a comprehensive talent‑search programme designed to feed India’s growing sports ecosystem. The initiative, titled “Talent Hunt,” will target children between five and fifteen years old, scouting them in schools, villages, and urban centers.

The programme promises a pipeline that moves identified youngsters from grassroots training to high‑performance centers, with access to world‑class coaches, sports science, and nutrition. Modi linked this effort to the nation’s broader goals of increasing medal counts, strengthening the bid for the 2036 Olympics, and ensuring a robust presence at the 2026 Asian Games and 2030 Commonwealth Games.

Officials said the campaign will be coordinated with state sports authorities, leveraging existing Khelo India infrastructure to maximize reach and impact.