New Delhi. India has emerged as a global sporting superpower in the year 2024 with a series of historic achievements in various sporting events. This remarkable success is the result of sustained efforts over the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including landmark initiatives like Khelo India. The scheme is launched to nurture grassroots talent and also targets Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which provides world-class support to top athletes.
Let us tell you that in recent years, India has made remarkable achievements such as India winning a record 107 medals in the 2023 Asian Games, Neeraj Chopra’s brilliant performance in many championships and Olympics and the Fit India Moment and various Khelo India Games editions of Indian sports. Underlines the continuous progress towards this golden age of. Sports have now moved beyond mere entertainment to become a respected career option, inspiring millions of young Indians to pursue their athletic dreams.
Prime Minister Modi: The biggest cheerleader of Indian sports!
Prime Minister Modi has consistently engaged athletes at various events including the Olympics and National Games. Even his speeches often highlight the successes of Indian athletes on international platforms, instilling a sense of pride among citizens.
A. After the Paris Olympics, he praised both the medal winners and those who missed the podium and emphasized that each athlete’s journey contributes to India’s sporting heritage.
B. The Prime Minister had publicly wished the Indian contingent success ahead of the Paris Paralympics 2024, saying that their courage and determination inspire the entire country. After the sports program, all the players were invited to the Prime Minister’s residence, where the Prime Minister welcomed them and appreciated their efforts in the games. Para-Olympian Yogesh Kathuniya called the Prime Minister a ‘best friend’ and highlighted the encouragement every sportsperson receives from him.
C. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his meeting with gold medalist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, expressed a heart-touching gesture by connecting with his mother. In a light-hearted manner, they shared how they were eagerly waiting for Neeraj’s famous laddu after his victory in the Tokyo Olympics. This personal warmth not only reflected Mr Modi’s sensibilities but also highlighted the importance of family support in an athlete’s journey.D. The Prime Minister became emotional when he received a special gift from chess player Vantika Aggarwal. Vantika presented him a priceless photograph of the ‘Swami Vivekananda Women’s Chess Mahotsav’ held in 2012, where the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was giving him the award.
There are countless moments that highlight Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal connect with the players, inspiring them, making them feel valued and inspiring them to win for the country. He constantly interacts with the players before, during and after the competition, whether they win or lose, but Shri Modi encourages them the entire time. The Prime Minister is truly a pillar of strength for them.
India is now moving towards big dreams of sports
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has officially expressed the country’s interest, taking an important step towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in India in 2036. The Indian Olympic Association submitted a letter of intent to the prospective host commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in November, marking India’s formal bid for the prestigious global event.
Khelo India and TOPS enhance India’s global sporting identity
The Modi government’s continued support for sports programs like Khelo India and TOPS is contributing significantly to India’s international identity. ‘Khelo India’ aims to foster a mass movement to promote sporting excellence across the country. The scheme, launched with an annual budget of USD 119 million, promotes talent identification and development at the grassroots level and provides scholarships to more than 2,700 children every year.
In fact, a total of 124 athletes in the Indian contingent participating in the Asian Games held in Hangzhou were Khelo India athletes and they made a special contribution by winning 42 out of 106 medals. Khelo India Women’s League was renamed Asmita Women’s League. Around four seasons of Asmita have been organized since 2021, in which a total of 83615 women players from 35 states and union territories have participated in 20 sports.
A total of 2,781 athletes (KIA) have been identified under the Khelo India Scheme and they are provided comprehensive support including special coaching, equipment, medical care and monthly allowance. The inclusion of 28 Khelo India athletes in the Indian contingent of 117 athletes for the Paris 2024 Olympics highlights the success of the sports program and the important role of the scheme in enhancing India’s performance at national and international sporting events. The ‘Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)’ assists athletes in preparing for the Olympics and other international competitions. Notably, out of the 117 athletes representing India at the Paris Olympics, 28 were Khelo India athletes. Similarly, India’s Paralympic team, comprising 18 Khelo India athletes, has won 29 medals, the highest ever medal tally at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
India in Olympics 2024
This year has proved to be a transformative year for India’s sporting journey, with successes at both the Olympics and Paralympics. The Government of India’s unwavering commitment to sporting excellence is evident through the historic funding allocation of over Rs 470 crore for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Modi government has displayed unparalleled support in ensuring that the athletes get the best environment to thrive, providing 40 portable air conditioners to the athletes at the Olympic Games Village. This sensitivity to the needs of athletes reflects India’s growing attention to the nuances of sports infrastructure.
Manu Bhaker created history by becoming the first Indian to win two medals in the same edition of the Olympics. Swapnil Kusale won his third medal in shooting, making it India’s biggest medal in any sport in a single edition of the Olympics. Neeraj Chopra became the most successful individual Olympian after winning a silver medal in javelin throw. Aman Sherawat became India’s youngest Olympic medalist by winning a bronze medal in wrestling.
Avani Lekhara won gold in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1, while Nitish Kumar continued his dominance in badminton by winning the men’s singles SL3 gold. Sumit Antil and Dharambir added to the medal tally by winning gold medals in men’s javelin throw F64 and men’s club throw F51 respectively. In archery, Harvinder Singh won the gold medal in men’s individual recurve open, while Navdeep Singh won the men’s javelin throw F41. Many other athletes contributed to the country’s impressive medal tally, making it a truly collective achievement for Indian para-sports. Support from government schemes like Khelo India and TOPS have played a vital role in empowering these athletes, enabling them to break barriers and redefine India’s place on the global stage.
Historical achievements in various sports
In Chess, D Gukesh recently became the youngest World Champion, making India very proud by achieving this historic feat at a young age. By 2024, the legacy of chess continued with prodigies like Vaishali Ramesh Babu, who has been awarded the title of Grandmaster by FIDE. Vaishali is the third Indian woman Grandmaster after Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli. The Indian chess team created history by winning gold medals in both the open and women’s categories in the 45th Chess Olympiad in Hungary. The women’s team won the first gold medal in this prestigious event. In cricket, Virat Kohli, one of India’s finest cricketers, was awarded the ICC ODI Player of the Year 2023. Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav won the ICC Men’s T20 Cricketer of the Year 2023 award. This was his second consecutive award in this category. 23-year-old horse rider Divyakriti Singh has achieved a remarkable Arjuna Award and has made her mark as the first Indian woman to achieve this feat in the field of horse riding.
India’s women’s doubles pair Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee created history by winning a historic bronze medal at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, the country’s first medal in the category. Indian wrestlers won four medals at the Asian Wrestling Championships in Kyrgyzstan. Won a silver and five bronze medals, which proved his ability. India finished third by winning seven gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze medals in the Asian Under-20 Athletics Championship 2024 held in Dubai. India’s Gulveer Singh created a national record in the men’s 10,000 meters event at the Hachioji Long Distance 2024 Athletics Meet in Japan. India’s Man Singh won gold at the Asian Marathon Championships 2024 with a personal best timing of two hours, 14 minutes and 19 seconds (2:14:19) in Hong Kong, China.
In the world of boxing, Mandeep Jangra won the US-based National Boxing Association’s intercontinental super featherweight title by defeating America’s Gerardo Esquivel in Toppanish city, Washington. India won the silver medal in the Maruhaba Cup, the team event of the Asian Surfing Championship 2024 to be held at the beautiful Thulusdhoo island of Maldives, defeating Chinese Taipei and China. At the Junior World Wushu Championships, the Indian team secured seven medals, including two gold, in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Apart from these, in a significant initiative to promote women’s cricket in India, Capri Sports-owned Women’s Premier League (WPL) team UP Warriors has been recognized by UN Women as ‘Generation Equality Ally’. This remarkable year for Indian sports reflects the tireless dedication and talent of the country’s athletes.
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