Being home to the largest youth population on the planet, India has a huge potential to become a superpower in the Olympics. And the Prime Minister Narendra Modiled government is working towards making this ambitious dream come true.

Speaking at the India Today eMind Rocks 2020 event on Saturday, the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju, laid out the road map for the nation to not just become a major sporting powerhouse but also about how citizens are now taking up diverse sports to stay fit and healthy.

During his conversation, the minister also highlighted the government and Prime Minister Modi’s achievements to work towards these objectives.

“I had two objectives in mind. One is to make India a sporting powerhouse and the other to make sports a culture and way of living. So, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been an inspirational guide for all of us; the PM has constituted the Olympics Task Force, the report has come and we are already implementing it. Another is the PM launched Fit India Movement. It is the basis on which we will rise as a country with fit people. Earlier, 70 per and did not meet parameters of fitness. But now people are taking care of their fitness and a new culture has come in,” Rijiju added.

The minister also suggested that we must create a sports culture in the society to make India a sporting powerhouse. “See, that whole saying of ‘khelege koodoge hoge kharab’; that cannot create the perfect atmosphere for the younger generation. So, we have changed that slogan with ‘kheloge koodoge banoge laajawab’ and through that we are creating a situation in which talent and potential is realised,” Rijiju said.

He further mentioned that India will be competing for a top-10 finish in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, riding the government’s ambitious ‘Target Olympic Podium Junior Scheme’. “The objectives are very clear, we have created the ‘Target Olympic Podium Junior Scheme’ that means those who are 10-13 years of age will be ready to become world champions by 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. By 2028, the target of getting India in the top-10 of Olympics medal ranking will be realised. I am very clear. We started planning and executing those plans,” he added.