Lok Sabha Question No. 189 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Strategy for increasing Medal Tally at the Olympics
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 189

TO BE ANSWERED ON - 25.11.2024

Strategy for increasing Medal Tally at the Olympics

189. SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:

Will  the  Minister  of  YOUTH  AFFAIRS  AND  SPORTS  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether any roadmap/strategy has been formulated to increase the  medal  tally  at  the  Olympics  and  increase  the  participation  of Indian athletes from the current 15- 20 sports to all 32 listed sports;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the number of athletes getting trained through Khelo India in Karnataka;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  set  up  any  new  Khelo  India centres in Karnataka and Dakshina Kannada in specific, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  introduce  traditional  Indian sports under Khelo India; if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a) & (b) Preparation for International events including Olympics is an ongoing and continuous process. Plans/Proposals of the National Sports Federations (NSFs) relating to training, competitive exposure, Coaches  and  support  personnel  including  foreign  coaches,  for preparing sportspersons/teams for the international events including mega-sports events such as Olympics, Asian  Games  etc  are

deliberated  and  finalized  in  the  Annual  Calendar  for  Training  and Competition (ACTC) meetings. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports supports the Indian sportspersons/teams through various schemes, such as Scheme of Assistance  to  National  Sports  Federations  and  Target  Olympic Podium Scheme. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the National Sports Federations (NSFs), including the Indian Olympic Association (IOA),  and  the  Sports  Authority  of  India  (SAI)  are  working  in  close coordination for providing best facilities, training, equipment support as also a wholesome nutritious diet required for preparation of the teams  and  sportspersons  for  the  forthcoming  international  sports events, including Olympics. Further,  the  selection  for  customized  training  of  the  elite  athletes who are medal prospects for mega sports events is done through the Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC). A performance review is also held at regular intervals under this mechanism. For  participation  in  Olympics,  qualification  criteria/standards  are fixed  by  the  concerned  International  Federation  of  the  respective sports  disciplines  and  the  participation  in  Olympics  is  dependent upon  the  sportspersons  qualifying  in  the  Olympic  Qualifiers  and meeting the criteria fixed by international federation.

- (c) & (d) Under  Khelo  India  Scheme,  at  present,  a  total  of  1115 athletes, under various components of Khelo India Centres (KICs) are getting  trained  in  the  State  of  Karnataka.  At  present  one  KIC  in Mangala  Stadium,  Mangalore  in  Dakshina  Kannada,  is  already operational. Further, the details of all KICs notified till date, including in state of Karnataka, are available on the dashboard at https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in/state-wise-khelo-india-centers#
- (e) The  traditional/indigenous  sports  are  also  supported  under Khelo India Scheme. KICs have been notified in various traditional sports such as Kho Kho, Kabaddi, Mallakhamb, etc. Apart from this, indigenous games  namely, Mallakhamb, Kalaripayyattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta and Yogasana were included as competitive sports in the Khelo India Youth Games 2021 Haryana and Khelo India Youth Games 2022 Madhya Pradesh and also Mallakhamb and Yogasana were part of Khelo India University Games 2021 in Karnataka and Khelo India University  Games 2022 in Uttar Pradesh. Recently, Silambam  was included as a demo Sport in Khelo India Youth Games 2023, Tamil Nadu.

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