Page 27 - NIS English September 2020 16-30
P. 27
Interview
Kiren Rijiju
We will be among top 10
countries in 2028
Los Angeles Olympics
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (Independent Charge)
Kiren Rijiju speaks to New India Samachar on preparation of sportspersons
during COVID Pandemic. Excerpts from the Interview:
What is sports Ministry doing will seek help from former
to support sportspersons lTell us something about players, experts and
in their preparations during sports infrastructure getting knowledgeable personalities
COVID 19 pandemic? augmented in India? region wise. Every sports will
Sports infrastructure is the
When the pandemic hit the basic requirement for athletes have a separate committee.
world, sporting events were to excel in their respective They will be identified and
the worst affected. But we sporting disciplines. We are admitted in the National
have found out certain ways giving the best facilities at Sports Academy in the junior
to engage our sportspersons. national camps including category. Several other
I started online physical paying as high salaries as Rs measures have also been
activities monitoring system 10 lakh per month to foreign taken. On this basis, I can
through their coaches. To coaches. The Prime Minister say that we will
continue with their fitness has been kind enough that be among the top 10
regimen, athletes are we have got better allocations countries in the 2028 Los
following well-designed giving good leverage to Angeles Olympics.
physical activity suitable take care of our financial What is your message for
to their respective sporting requirements. sportspersons as a Minister?
discipline. There is SOP for There is no sporting culture
sports involving more than There are many talents in the in the country despite the
two sportspersons. remote areas of the country, fact that there is no dearth of
Are Indian sportspersons what are the plans of the talent. The mindset has been
prepared for Tokyo Olympics, Ministry for them? that there is no future in sports.
if any call is taken? We are a country of 130 billion Change is possible only if
Our athletes are well prepared people but we are hardly able society gives it a recognition.
but when events like the to win one or two medals. We have started a fund in the
Olympics come up, one has Now, we are targeting young name of Deendayal Upadhyay
to prepare on a different talents between 8 and 12 under which sportspersons,
note. Now, preparations have years of age group by dividing who had played for the country,
started once again and it will the country in five zones. Five are being provided with
reach its peak next year by talent scouting committees assistance up to maximum of
July and August. will be constituted which Rs 10 lakh. n
New India Samachar 25
