Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju has shed light on the Indian government’s ambitious plans to make the nation a sporting giant, where fitness and sports will be an intrinsic part of the culture.

In the inaugural episode of India Today’s very first e-Mind Rocks event, Kiren Rijiju said he wants sports to be a culture and way of living in the country. Kiren Rijiju said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been an inspiration to all and the ‘Olympics Task Force’ formulated by the government will help do wonders in the near future.

Lauding the Prime Minister’s ‘Fit India Movement’ initiative, Rijiju said 70 per cent of the Indians have started valuing their fitness and are taking care of that aspect of life.

“I had 2 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, PM has constituted the Olympics Task Force, the report has come and we are already implementing it. Another is, PM launched the Fit India Movement. It is the basis in which we will rise as a country with fit people. Earlier, 70 percent of Indians were not fit, technical exercise and parameters of that fitness. But now people are taking care of their fitness and the culture has come in,” Kiren Rijiju said on India Today’s e-Mind Rocks.

Further, Kiren Rijiju suggested that the outlook of society for sports will have to change. He pointed out that the saying of ‘kheloge Koodoge hoge kharab’ is misleading and the saying should be changed with ‘Kheloge koodoge banoge laajwab’ to bring a desirable change in atmosphere for the younger generations.

“Secondly, to make India a sports powerhouse we must create a sports culture in the society. See that whole saying of ‘khelege koodegi hoge Kharab’. That cannot create that perfect atmosphere for the younger generation. So, we have changed that slogan with ‘Kheloge koodoge banoge laajwab’ and through that we are creating a situation where that talents and all the potentials are realised,” Rijiju stated.

The Sports Minister also talked in detail about the objectives and goals which India wants to achieve in the upcoming years. Rijiju revealed that ‘Target Olympic Podium Junior Scheme’ is scouting talents as young as 10 and 12 years old, with the aim to make them world champions by 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Kiren Rijiju said that these young talents will be guided by a world-class coaching facility en route their journey to become world champions. Rijiju added that steps like enhancing the skill sets of Indian coaches, removing Rs 2-lakh salary cap for coaches and extended coaching tenures will further bring positive changes in the Indian sports system. Kiren Rijiju once again asserted that India is eyeing to finish in the top-10 of Olympics medal tally by 2028.

“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 starting the scheme we are identifying the young talents, it’s a process of talent scouting at a young age and taking full responsibility of their training by bringing in world-class coaches. I have recently decided to extend the tenure of coaches, Indian coaches are being enhanced and the 2-lakh salary cap of coaches has also been removed. 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,” Kiren Rijiju asserted.