In his Independence Day address, the PM said India should compete in at least three-fourths of Olympic events by 2036 and linked the push to Ahmedabad hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide talent identification programme for children aged 5 to 15 during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort on August 15, 2026, according to IANS and Outlook India.
"We are launching a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to identify prospects in every corner of the country," Modi said, according to Outlook India. The campaign will be conducted "village to village, city to city, school to school," he said, according to India.com, which reported that the drive will carry a specific emphasis on identifying girls.
Modi tied the initiative to a specific target: raising India's participation from roughly a third of Olympic events to at least three-fourths by 2036. "We have decided that in 2036, we should participate in at least three fourth events," he said, according to ProKerala.
He described the current shortfall as a problem of qualification rather than ambition. "It is sad that we are not able to even compete in at least two thirds of these events because we are not even able to qualify," Modi said, according to ProKerala, referring to India's limited presence across the roughly 40 sports and 325-350 events on the Olympic programme.
Approximate number of sports on the Olympic programme that the talent hunt is meant to help India compete across, per ProKerala.
Total events across the Olympic programme, cited in Modi's speech as reported by Outlook India.
Children in this age range are the target of the nationwide identification drive, according to IANS.
Share of Olympic events Modi said India should be competing in by 2036, according to ProKerala.
The programme will use AI-driven fitness battery tests to evaluate children on cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, speed, agility, flexibility, balance and movement capabilities, according to India.com.
Outlook India reported that the drive will prioritise disciplines where India currently lacks competitive representation despite medal opportunities, naming aquatics, cycling, rowing and gymnastics among the focus sports.
Children will be screened using AI-driven battery tests covering endurance, strength, speed, agility, flexibility and balance, per India.com.
Aquatics, cycling, rowing and gymnastics were named as focus disciplines where India currently has limited representation, according to Outlook India.
Modi referenced the Target Olympic Podium Scheme and Khelo India Games as the foundation the new drive builds on, according to India.com.
Modi's speech linked the talent hunt to Ahmedabad's dual role in India's sporting calendar: host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games, and the proposed base for a 2036 Olympic bid. He noted that the 2030 Games will be India's second Commonwealth Games after New Delhi 2010, according to ProKerala, and pointed to the Narendra Modi Stadium complex as a primary venue.
Outlook India reported that the outcome of India's 2036 Olympic hosting bid, for which Ahmedabad has been put forward, is expected to be determined in 2029 by the International Olympic Committee.
Several current and aspiring athletes welcomed the announcement in comments to IANS. International handball player Sujata said rural talent identification and early coaching would be crucial for India's future athletic performance.
National-level player Nitin called the drive "a much-needed step" to address India's limited participation across multiple sports, while handball coach Binoy D.S. pointed to the grassroots reach and support for underrepresented sports. Kho Kho player Dhanvin Khopkar said the programme would let more children "compete in such sports and help us win more medals," according to IANS.
He announced a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to identify athletes for sports where India currently has limited representation, aiming to lift India's Olympic event participation to three-fourths by 2036, according to IANS and Outlook India.
Children between 5 and 15 years old, identified through a search described as running "village to village, city to city, school to school," according to India.com.
Outlook India reported the drive will prioritise aquatics, cycling, rowing and gymnastics, disciplines where India currently lacks competitive representation.
Modi's speech noted Ahmedabad will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, India's second after New Delhi 2010, and the city has also been put forward as the base for India's 2036 Olympic bid, with an IOC decision expected in 2029, according to ProKerala and Outlook India.
Through AI-driven fitness battery tests measuring cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, speed, agility, flexibility, balance and movement capabilities, according to India.com.
IANS (via ianslive.in) | Outlook India | India.com | ProKerala