Kishan Reddy urges youth to dream big and train hard at Khelo India Dialogue
Hyderabad: Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy urged India’s youth to contribute actively to the country’s sporting ambitions and nation-building at the Khelo India Dialogue in Hyderabad on Thursday.
He addressed the “Khel Ki Baat PM Ke Saath” programme at the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU). Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the nationwide dialogue through video conference.
The Prime Minister focused on developing a modern sports ecosystem. He also spoke about preparing India’s youth for the 2036 Olympic Games.
More than 1,500 educational institutions across the country participated in the interaction. As part of the programme, young participants engaged with discussions on India’s sporting future.
Kishan Reddy said every child should have an opportunity to play. He also called for adequate support to help talented athletes compete at the highest international level.
He said sports were no longer merely an extracurricular activity. Instead, sports had become an important instrument for youth development, health, discipline, employment and nation-building.
Khelo India Dialogue focuses on Olympic preparation
Kishan Reddy highlighted India’s recent achievements in international sport. He referred to Neeraj Chopra’s historic Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020.
He also cited the Indian men’s hockey team’s bronze medal at Tokyo. Meanwhile, he pointed to Manu Bhaker’s two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics 2024.
India must now build on these achievements, Kishan Reddy said. For this reason, preparations for the 2036 Olympics should begin at the grassroots level.
He identified schools, colleges, universities, academies, playgrounds and Khelo India Centres as key platforms for developing sporting talent.
The Minister stressed that Olympic talent could emerge from villages and towns across India. Therefore, he urged students to dream big, train hard, remain disciplined and believe in themselves.
He also underlined the role of universities such as EFLU. Such institutions, he said, should help students pursue education and sports together.
Sports develop discipline, teamwork, leadership, perseverance, confidence and fair play, Kishan Reddy said. These qualities, he added, were essential for building a strong and developed India.
He expressed confidence in India’s young sporting talent. Future champions for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics could already be among today’s participants, he said.
Kishan Reddy called upon youth to work towards a “Fit India, Healthy India, Developed India and Sports India”. He linked the appeal to the broader vision of Viksit Bharat.
EFLU Vice-Chancellor Prof. N. Nagaraju and Registrar Sini Manchala attended the programme. PIB ADG Shruti Patil, athlete J.J. Shobha, badminton player Shriyanshi Valishetty and Yuva Connect moderator Sreeja Jadhav also participated.
The Khelo India Dialogue brought students and sporting personalities together as part of the nationwide interaction on India’s sporting ambitions.