Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a nationwide sports talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15, as India steps up preparations for its ambition to host and compete strongly at the 2036 Olympic Games. Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day on August 15, Modi said India is emerging as a strong contender to host the Games and must expand its participation beyond the sports in which it traditionally performs well.
He said the programme will identify promising children across villages, cities and schools and provide them with specialised training to develop them into world-class athletes. The announcement was followed by action from the Sports Ministry, with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya calling for an accelerated national roadmap to identify and nurture athletes for 2036. The government has also been using platforms such as Khelo India to strengthen grassroots participation and connect young people with sport.
A Talent Hunt With A 10-Year Olympic Horizon
Modi said the Olympics comprise around 40 sporting disciplines and nearly 350 events, but India currently does not participate or qualify in almost two-thirds of them. He set a target of ensuring Indian participation in at least three-fourths of Olympic events by 2036. “We are launching a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to identify prospects in every corner of the country. They will get special training to become world-class athletes,” he said.
The initiative is intended to look beyond India’s established strengths and identify potential in disciplines where participation remains limited. On August 27, while addressing the Khelo India Dialogue, Modi reiterated that talent identification must begin early and said selection should consider both a child’s interest and physical suitability for a particular sport. “Whatever support is needed from the government for this, the government will walk shoulder to shoulder with you,” he said.
From Khelo India To The 2036 Pipeline
The proposed talent hunt builds on existing efforts such as Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which Modi credited with helping India’s sporting ecosystem expand. The government has also pointed to investments in coaching, sports science, training, nutrition and infrastructure as part of this wider push. India is scheduled to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, while Ahmedabad is also associated with India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympics.
The country’s bid for the 2036 Games is yet to be decided, but the government is already positioning athlete development as a long-term project rather than one tied only to a single sporting event. On August 20, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the Sports Authority of India’s 63rd Governing Body Meeting and called for the groundwork for the next decade to begin immediately. “The plan for the next 10 years before we see the Olympics being hosted in the nation has to start in full swing right from this moment,” he said.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
India’s Olympic ambitions can be meaningful if they are built around children, access and opportunity, not simply medal counts. A nationwide talent hunt could help discover young athletes from communities and regions that have historically had little access to professional coaching or sporting infrastructure. But identifying talent is only the first step. Sustained investment in safe playgrounds, qualified coaches, sports science, nutrition, education and transparent selection will be essential if children are to pursue sport without sacrificing their wider well-being.
Equally important is ensuring that sporting opportunities reach girls, children from disadvantaged communities and young people outside major cities. The spirit of sport lies not only in winning, but in discipline, resilience, fair play and learning to respect competitors. If India wants to build a genuinely sporting nation by 2036, how can we make sure this Olympic vision creates opportunities for every talented child, not just those who are already privileged enough to be seen?
