Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address young athletes and youth leaders on Thursday as part of the nationwide initiative, ‘Khelo India Dialogue – Khel Ki Baat, Pradhan Mantri Modi Ke Saath’, being organised to mark National Sports Day 2026.
The programme will be held virtually across more than 1,500 educational institutions, bringing together budding athletes, students, policymakers and leading sportspersons to discuss ways to strengthen India’s sporting ecosystem and expand opportunities for the youth.
The Prime Minister’s virtual address will be followed by physical programmes organised simultaneously at participating institutions across the country. IITs, IIMs, NITs, AIIMS, leading medical colleges and universities are among the institutions expected to participate.
The initiative will focus on four key areas: strengthening grassroots sports infrastructure, coaching and competitive opportunities; identifying and developing talent with an eye on the 2036 Olympics; increasing youth participation in governance and leadership; and equipping young people with future-ready skills, volunteering opportunities and avenues for nation-building.
A major component of the programme will be interactions between young participants and some of India’s leading athletes and medal winners. Sportspersons including Deepa Karmakar, Saina Nehwal, Gagan Narang, PR Sreejesh, Mary Kom, Baichung Bhutia, Pullela Gopichand, Anju Bobby George, Karnam Malleswari, Mirabai Chanu and PT Usha are set to share their sporting journeys, challenges and experiences with the youth.
The programme will also extend beyond the sporting community, with Members of Parliament, MLAs, Union Ministers, Ministers of State and State Sports Ministers participating at various locations and interacting with young people on the four identified themes.
Discussions on talent development are expected to align with India’s long-term ambitions for the 2036 Olympics, focusing on scientific talent identification, athlete development and stronger pathways for young sportspersons to progress from the grassroots to the elite level.
Organisers also plan to encourage sustained youth engagement beyond National Sports Day. Participants will be encouraged to take part in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue Quiz and register on the MY Bharat Portal.
By bringing together athletes, students, policymakers and elected representatives on a common platform, the initiative aims to give young people a more direct role in shaping discussions on India’s sporting future and broader youth development.
(With IANS inputs)
