- Union MoS Youth Affairs & Sports stresses need for states to rigorously adopt high-performance models, sports science, and Khelo Bharat Niti
The Sports Authority of India (SAI), Regional Centre Mumbai, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, marked National Sports Day 2025 with a grand conclave at its Kandivali campus, honouring the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and celebrating the spirit of fitness, sportsmanship, and youth development.
The inaugural session saw the presence of eminent dignitaries including Shri Adille Sumariwalla (Vice President, World Athletics & President, AFI), Shri Sanjay Bhatia (IAS Retd.), Ms. Ayesha Shroff (Founder, MFN MMA & MMA Matrix Gym), Shri Tahir Raj Bhasin (Indian Film Actor), and Shri Pandurang Chate (IRS, Regional Director – I/c, SAI RC Mumbai), among other leaders from the fields of sport, cinema, and public life.
- Panel Discussion 1: Shaping the Future of Indian Sport
Delivering her keynote address, Hon’ble Union MoS for Youth Affairs & Sports Smt. Raksha Khadse urged state governments to adopt ecosystems of high performance in alignment with the gold standard established by Khelo India.
“Khelo India has created a globally benchmarked framework. But for India to maximize its sporting potential, states must rigorously adopt high-performance practices, strengthen sports science, and partner with private stakeholders, educational institutions, and local communities. Only then can we build a strong talent pipeline and provide athletes the best coaching, infrastructure, and scientific support to make India a consistent global performer,” she said.
Smt. Khadse reiterated that the National Sports Governance Act, the Khelo Bharat Niti, and the Khelo India framework together provide a roadmap for India’s aspirations to host the 2036 Olympics and become a top five sporting nation by 2047.
- Panel Discussion 2: Sports and Education – Building Careers, Skills, and Opportunities
This session featured Shri V. Ramanadha Reddy (Additional Commissioner, CGST Mumbai Zone), Shri Nilesh Kulkarni (Founder & Director, IISM & Former Indian Cricketer), Shri Pradeep Srikrishnan Gandhe (Vice President, Maharashtra Olympic Association), Dr. Nivedita Shreyans (Director, PR & Corporate Communication, Pillai Group of Institutions), and Olympian Shri Narsingh Yadav.
The panel emphasized the importance of integrating sports into education, creating skill-based opportunities, and building viable career pathways for youth, while highlighting the transformative role sports can play in nation-building.
- Closing Ceremony
The Conclave concluded with Smt. Raksha Khadse as the Chief Guest. The ceremony featured Artistic Yoga and wrestling demonstrations, along with the felicitation of distinguished athletes, including Khelo India and NCOE Mumbai athletes who brought laurels at the international stage.
Winners of essay, debate, and poster competitions held as part of National Sports Day 2025 celebrations were also honoured.
Smt. Khadse highlighted that the Fit India Mission has transformed National Sports Day into a Jan Andolan, engaging schools, colleges, universities, MY Bharat, NSS, RWAs, Panchayats, corporates, PSUs, IOA, PCI, NSFs, and lakhs of community groups under the theme “Ek Ghanta, Khel ke Maidan Main.”
She underlined that the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 will play a transformative role in strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem, contributing to the larger vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The Government of India, she affirmed, remains committed to investing in sports culture, infrastructure, start-ups, sports equipment manufacturing, and leveraging the soft power of sports to enhance India’s global image.