Union Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju virtually inaugurated eight Khelo India State Centres of Excellence across India and in the presence of distinguished State Sports Ministers on Tuesday. The eight States include: Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Kerala, Telangana, Nagaland, Karnataka and Odisha.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa was part of the virtual launch besides Arunachal Pradesh Sports Minister Mama Natung, Advisor, YAS, Nagaland, Er Zale Neikha, Manipur Sports Minister Letpao Haolip, Mizoram Sports Minister Robert Romawia Royte and Telangana Sports Minister Dr. V Srinivas Goud. Secretary Ravi Mital was also present along with Sandip Pradhan, Director-General, Sports Authority of India.
“This is a very important day for sports in India and it is a very important beginning to develop sports culture and excellence in the country. The youth in India is looking for initiatives from the Govt of India and the State Governments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has said sports has to be a way of life for every Indian and the Govt of India wants to create basic facilities for everyone. The Khelo India State Centres of Excellence are being started in addition to the National Centres of Excellence,” Rijiju said.
The Union Minister reiterated the vision is to see India in top 10 in the Los Angeles Olympics 2028. “The Central and State govt has to work together and we will provide all necessary financial assistance so they develop with proper infrastructure and manpower, sports science, high quality training and so on. We cannot be satisfied with only 1-2 medals, we have to be in top 10 in 2028 Olympics,” Rijiju added.
B S Yediyurappa, Chief Minister, Govt. of Karnataka, thanked the Govt of India for setting up the KISCE and ensured complete support from the Govt of Karnataka to help build the sporting ecosystem of the country. “I thank Sports Minister of India Kiren Rijiju ji from the bottom of my heart for allocating the Jayaprakash Narayan National Youth Centre Bangalore as a Khelo India State Centre of Excellence.
The Govt of Karnataka is always investing heavily for the improvement of these centres, hostels and other organizations. We are also supporting all the medal winning sportspersons and I’m confident the KISCE here will produce more world class sportspersons who will bring great laurels to India,” Yediyurappa mentioned.
