Prime Minister's Office
English rendering of PM's speech at the inauguration of 2nd Saansad Khel Mahakumbh in Basti, Uttar Pradesh, via video conferencing
Namaskar ji!
Chief Minister of UP Shri Yogi Adityanath ji, my colleague in parliament and our young friend Harish Dwivedi ji, various sports persons, ministers of state government, MLAs, people's representatives, senior dignitaries and a large number of young people I can see everywhere. My dear brothers and sisters!
Our Basti is the holy land of Maharishi Vashishtha, the land of labor and meditation, asceticism and renunciation. And, for a player, his game is also a ‘sadhana’, a penance in which he keeps on testing himself. The focus of a successful player is also very accurate and then he moves forward while achieving victory at new stages one after the other. I am happy that such a huge Khel Mahakumbh is being organized in Basti due to the efforts of our MP Harish Dwivedi ji. This Khel Mahakumbh will give a new opportunity to local sportspersons who are traditionally well-versed in Indian sports. I have been told that about 200 MPs of India have organized similar sports events in their respective places in which thousands of youths have participated. I am also an MP from Kashi. Such a series of sports competitions has also started in my parliamentary constituency of Kashi. All the MPs are working to shape the future of the new generation by organizing such Khel Mahakumbh at many places. Young sportspersons who have performed well in the Saansad Khel Mahakumbh are also being selected for further training by the Sports Authority of India. This will greatly benefit the youth power of the country. More than 40,000 youths are taking part in this Mahakumbh itself. And I am told that this figure is three times more than last year. I wish all of you, my young friends, very best for these games. Just now I got the opportunity to watch Kho-Kho. It was really a great pleasure to watch the cleverness with which our daughters were playing and with complete team spirit. I don't know whether you could hear my clapping or not. But I congratulate all these daughters for playing a great game and for giving me the opportunity to enjoy the game of Kho-Kho.
Friends,
There is another feature of Saansad Khel Mahakumbh. A large number of our daughters are participating in this. And I have full faith that the daughters of Basti, Purvanchal, UP and the country will continue to show their mettle in national and international competitions. Just a few days ago, we saw how brilliantly our country's cricket captain Shefali Verma performed in the Women's Under-19, T-20 World Cup. Shefali hit five fours in five consecutive balls and then hit the last ball of the over for a six, scoring 26 runs in a single over. Similarly, there is so much talent in every part of India. The Saansad Khel Mahakumbh has an important role in spotting and grooming the sports talent.
Friends,
There was a time when sports used to be regarded as an extracurricular activity. It was considered only a means of time passing apart from studies. The children were told and taught the same thing. As a result, a mentality was developed in society generation after generation that sports are not that important and they are not a part of life and future. This mentality caused a huge loss to the country.
There are so many capable youths and talents who were deprived of sports. In the last 8-9 years, the country has created a better environment for sports, leaving behind this old approach. Therefore, now more children and our youth are looking at sports as a career option. From fitness to health, from team bonding to a means of relieving stress, from professional success to personal improvement, people are beginning to realize the different benefits of sports. And it is a matter of satisfaction that parents are also taking sports seriously now. This change is good for our society as well as for sports. Sports are now gaining social prestige.
And friends,
The direct benefit of this change in the thinking of the people is visible on the achievements of the country in the field of sports. Today India is constantly creating new records. We recorded the best ever performance in the Olympics and in the Paralympics. India's performance in different sports tournaments is now becoming a topic of discussion. And my young friends, this is just the beginning. We have a long journey to go, new goals to achieve and create many new records.
Friends,
Sports is a skill as well as a nature. Sports is a talent as well as a determination. Training has its own importance in the development of sports and it is also necessary that various sports competitions and tournaments should be organized regularly. This gives players a chance to test their training continuously. Sports competitions at different levels in different regions help the players a lot. As a result, the players not only get to know about their potential, they are also able to develop their own techniques. The coaches of the players also realize the shortcomings in their disciples, the need for improvement and how the opponents are faring better.
Therefore, maximum opportunities are being given to the players, right from Saansad Mahakumbh to National Games. That's why more and more Youth Games, University Games and Winter Games are being held in the country today. Thousands of players are participating in these games every year. Our government is also providing financial assistance to the players under the Khelo India campaign. At present, there are more than 2500 athletes in the country who are being given more than Rs 50,000 every month under the Khelo India campaign. Our government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme  is greatly helping the sports persons participating in the Olympics. About 500 sportspersons are being given financial assistance every month under this scheme also. Keeping in view the need of some players of international repute, the government has offered them financial help from Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 7 crore.
Friends,
Today's new India is also trying to solve every challenge being faced by the sports sector. Emphasis is being laid on ensuring that our players have adequate resources, training, technical knowledge, international exposure and transparency in their selection. Today, infrastructure related to sports is being developed in Basti and other such districts, stadiums are being built and coaches are being arranged. More than 1,000 Khelo India district centers are also being set up across the country. I am happy that more than 750 of these centers are already operational. All playgrounds across the country are also being geo-tagged so that players do not face any problem in getting training.
The Government has constructed a Sports University in Manipur for the youth of the North East and a Sports University is also being constructed in Meerut, UP. And I have been told that many new stadiums have been built in UP. Sports hostels are also being run in many districts of UP to promote sports. Efforts are also being made to provide national level facilities at the local level. In short, my young friends have immense opportunities. You now have to hoist the flag of victory and illuminate the name of the country.
Friends,
Every sports person knows how important it is to stay fit and the Fit India Movement has played a role in this regard. All of you must do one more thing to pay attention to fitness. You should include yoga in your life. With yoga, your body will be healthy and your mind will also be active. This will also benefit you in your game. Similarly, nutritious food is equally important for every player. Our millets, coarse grains, which are usually consumed in every house in our villages, can play an important role in ensuring nutritious food. You must be aware that 2023 has been declared as the International Year of Millets at the behest of India. If you include millets in your diet chart then it will also ensure better health for you.
Friends,
I am sure all our youth will learn a lot from sports as well as in life and this energy of yours will expand from the sports field and become the country's energy. I congratulate Harish ji. He remains engaged in this endeavour with great passion. He invited me for this program in the last parliament session. His nature of working day and night for the youth of Basti is also visible in the playground.
I wish you all the very best. Thank you very much.
DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.