SAI shortlist 734 Athletes For Khelo India Scholarship
“Padho Likhoge to banoge Nawab, Kheloge Kudoge to honge lajawab.”
The ambitious Khelo India initiative took off extravagantly with an aimto create an ecosystem for the U-17 age group, and focus on investing in them to reap future benefits. With anaim to revive the sporting culture in the country at grassroots level and builda concrete framework for all sports and providing opportunities to young sports person, the program was divided into 12 crucial verticals, namely:
- Play Field Development
- Community Coaching Development
- State Level Khelo India Centers
- Annual Sports Competitions
- Talent Search & Development
- Utilization and Creation/ Up gradation of Sports Infrastructure
- Support to National/Regional/State Sports Academies
- Physical fitness of school children
- Sports for Women
- Promotion of sports amongst people with disabilities
- Sports for Peace & Development
- Promotion of Rural and Indigenous/Tribal game
The first edition of Khelo India took place across sixteen sports. Every year best 1000 kids will be given an annual scholarship of INR 500000 for eight years to coach and nourish them. The initiative aims at creating a sustainable sporting ecosystem to help kids and athletes pursue their sport of choice under professional guidance and government sport. The initiative goes a long way in defining Indian sport in the coming future in various disciplines and help youngsters chose a sport of their choice and talent.
The Sports Authority of India has selected 734 players for its scholarship programme under the Khelo India Talent Identification Development Scheme.
The key feature of the scholarship, which will be given to 385 boys and 349 girls, is an annual stipend of Rs. 1.2 lakhs which will be given to the players on a quarterly basis to meet their out of pocket expenses, treating injuries and other elements such as local travel for themselves and their parents/ family members. Various private, State and Sports Authority of India academies have been accredited. The High Powered Committee accredited 21 non-SAI academies as well. The accredited academies will look after the training, boarding and tournament expenses of the athletes.
Mr. Nilesh Kulkarni (Founder-Director, IISM) re-affirms that this initiative has what it takes to unlock our country’s true sporting potential, he quips, “Our Hon’ble Prime Minister has taken a wonderful initiative and to take a leaf out of that, our Sports Minister and Sports Authority Of India are getting very active in encouraging and promoting the grass root development across India which is very significant in terms of the overall development for the youth.
At school level, we should encourage children to at least play two to three sports and one of the sport should be introduced as a team sport for them to learn about the fighting spirit, the competitiveness, and thus build an awareness about challenging their limits and pushing through them.” (Click here to watch his views)
It’s safe to say that now Sporting ecosystem is witnessing some transformational changes and we are definitely reaching out to our young ones effectively. This new development shall help us in connecting our potential across the globe, and encourageevery Indian to have sports as a part of their lives, whether for entertainment, education or excellence.
