Opinion | Why Khelo India is now a big part of every athlete’s journey?

Seven years ago, we ignited a movement with the launch of the Khelo India School Games (KISG) in 2018. Today, as I look at how far we’ve come, I am filled with immense pride—not just for the medals we’ve won, but for the way Khelo India has transformed the very fabric of sports in our nation. Conceptualized under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Khelo India was never just about winning medals—it was about igniting a nationwide movement for sports, fostering a culture where every child has the opportunity to play and develop holistically. Today, this movement has evolved into a multi-faceted national program spanning 16 editions of Khelo India Games, creating an ecosystem that nurtures young talent, builds world-class infrastructure, and promotes inclusivity in sports—laying the foundation for India’s ambitious goal of becoming a dominant global sporting nation.

The inaugural Khelo India School Games (KISG) set the tone for India’s grassroots sports revolution. Recognizing the immense potential within school-level competitions, KISG created a structured pathway for young athletes to transition from inter-school competitions to national and international sporting events. Over the years, this initiative has identified and nurtured thousands of athletes, some of whom have gone on to represent India at the Olympics and Asian Games. The biggest example of the system has been Khel Ratna awardee Manu Bhaker, who transitioned from the School Games to the University Games to becoming a double bronze medallist at the Paris Olympics.
With the expansion of KISG into the broader Khelo India Games framework, grassroots talent identification has become more robust. Schools remain the hotbeds of raw talent, and Khelo India has played a pivotal role in ensuring that these young athletes receive world-class training, infrastructure, and exposure. Today, school and university-level champions from Khelo India are winning medals at the highest levels, a testament to the program’s effectiveness.
Since its inception, Khelo India has conducted 16 editions of its Games, including six Youth Games, four University Games, five Winter Games, and one Para Games. Each edition has introduced new dimensions to India’s sporting landscape.
The school games and the subsequent youth games have now become the flagship competition for young athletes and a crucial talent-spotting event for India’s future Olympians. This expansion has ensured a seamless transition for athletes across different levels of competition, reinforcing India’s sporting pipeline.
Khelo India has evolved far beyond just an athlete identification program. It now encompasses multiple stakeholders, including corporates, state governments, private academies, and grassroots organizations. The role of the private sector has grown significantly, with corporations investing in sports development through sponsorships, infrastructure projects, and athlete mentorship programs. The “One Corporate, One Sport” initiative is being introduced to further enhance corporate engagement in sports by ensuring targeted support through partnerships with the Government, National Sports Federations (NSFs), and corporate entities.
State governments have also taken the initiative, proposing Khelo India Centres (KICs) based on regional sporting priorities, ensuring that sports development is aligned with local needs. In addition, plans are in place to establish Olympic Training Centres (OTCs) across different zones of the country. These world-class high-performance centres will provide elite athlete training, including for para-sports and indigenous sports, and will be equipped with state-of-the-art sports infrastructure, sports science, and sports medicine facilities. Furthermore, State Centres of Excellence (SCOEs) will be established to provide high-quality training programs, supporting athletes in priority sports.
Inclusivity has been a cornerstone of Khelo India, and initiatives such as the ‘Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action’ (ASMITA) League have played a crucial role in empowering women in sports. Since its launch in 2021, ASMITA has organized over 880 competitions, impacting more than 100,000 women athletes, including Olympic medalists like Mirabai Chanu.
Hon’ble Prime Minister Modi has always emphasized the importance of supporting athletes from rural India and smaller cities, who often need additional backing. Through Khelo India, we have ensured that financial constraints do not hold back talent. Women’s football leagues under Khelo India have reached even remote areas like Monigong in Arunachal Pradesh, fostering sports participation in regions previously untouched by organized sporting activities.
For para-athletes, Khelo India Para Games have provided an inclusive platform, with multiple athletes now qualifying for global events like the Paralympics. Additionally, the initiative has actively promoted indigenous sports such as Yogasana, Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Thang-ta, and Gatka, ensuring their preservation and growth by integrating them into the Khelo India Youth & University Games. To further promote indigenous sports, efforts will be made to establish India-based International Federations for traditional sports like Kabaddi and Kho-Kho, with the aim of organizing world championships and working towards their inclusion in international multi-sport events.
To further professionalize the coaching structure, we have ensured the integration of Past Champion Athletes (PCAs) as mentors at the 1000+ Khelo India Centres (KICs) all over India. Further, through free certification courses at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) Patiala, these former international/national athletes now contribute to India’s coaching ecosystem, ensuring the next generation benefits from their experience and expertise.
As India moves forward, the Khelo India movement is more than just a sports development program; it is a strategic initiative that aligns with the country’s long-term goal of hosting the Olympic Games in 2036 and finishing among the top 10 sporting nations. Hosting international sports competitions will be a crucial aspect of this vision, with efforts being made to support National Sports Federations (NSFs) in bidding for international events and bringing major global sporting competitions to India.
As we look towards 2036, the impact of Khelo India will be measured not just by medals won but by the millions of lives it has touched, the grassroots revolution it has fostered, and the culture of sports and fitness it has embedded in Indian society. With continued investment, collaboration, and innovation, India is well on its way to realizing its dream of becoming a global sporting powerhouse.