Page 79 - NIS - English,16-30 September,2022

Sankalp Yatra of New India Cover Story

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A NEW SPORTS Why a country with 65 per cent of the population below the age

ECOSYSTEM of 35 lagged behind on the world sports stage? Barring a few

sports, this question often resonates in the minds of every Indian
regarding India's performance on stages like the Olympics and
TO IDENTIFY RIGHT Asiad. But now, from the Tokyo Olympics to the Birmingham
Commonwealth, World Championships, and Thomas Cup, Indian
TALENT players are writing new success stories, thanks to the steps with
which India started developing a new sports ecosystem.

TARGET OLYMPIC PODIUM KHELO INDIA
SCHEME (TOPS) PROGRAM

n Under this scheme, launched n The objective of this
in 2014, every responsibility scheme, started in 2016,
ranging from training, is to provide all facilities,
expenditure, and participation including training, to the
in competitions for top-level players by selecting them
athletes is borne by the from the grassroots level.
Sports Ministry. n In 2014, there were 38
n Currently, 162 athletes and sports infrastructures in
women's and men's hockey the country, whereas after
teams have been included Khelo India, their number
in the core group under this has increased to 360.
scheme. Similarly, under the The selected talent from
TOPS Junior scheme, 254 Khelo India is groomed
of the best players are being and further promoted to
selected and prepared for the the top.
future.

FIT INDIA

The "Fit India Movement" was launched on August 29, 2019. The
objective of the Fit India Movement is to change behaviour from a
lifestyle to a physically active way of day-to-day life. Many activities
are organised from school to district under this programme.

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New India Samachar September 16-30, 2022 77
New India Samachar September 16-30, 2022