New Delhi: Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Mansukh Mandaviya, urged the integration of sporting culture into every household and fostering a love for sports in every child, according to a statement from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
“Every street in Bharat should become a sporting arena, and every podium should witness our flag flying high,” he said.
Highlighting the multi-dimensional nature of sports in India, Mandaviya added, “Sports is a way of life. It is part of our culture, a profession, a form of entertainment, and an essential element of our economy.”
Speaking at the inaugural session of the Sportstar x KPMG PLAYCOM Business of Sports Summit 2025 in New Delhi, the Minister emphasized the importance of making sports a people’s movement. He cited initiatives like Sundays on Cycles as examples of grassroots engagement and reiterated the need to nurture a sporting culture at home.
Mandaviya underscored reforms in India’s sporting ecosystem under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that initiatives such as Fit India and Khelo India have successfully generated awareness and enthusiasm among citizens. “Our reforms must be continuous. India has immense talent; what it needs is opportunity, nurturing, and respect,” he said.
Outlining a vision to make India one of the world’s top five sporting nations, he stressed the role of policy and governance: “We are working on 10-year and 25-year strategic plans to transform India’s sporting ecosystem. This long-term vision will guide us towards a Viksit Bharat and establish India among the top five sporting nations, in line with the Prime Minister’s goals.”
The Minister also highlighted the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, calling it a landmark law that ensures athlete-centric governance, dispute redressal mechanisms, and mandatory representation for women in decision-making bodies. “Women must not only participate but also have a voice. This Act will provide institutional platforms for them to lead,” he said.
Mandaviya drew attention to the Khelo Bharat Niti – 2025, developed through extensive stakeholder consultations and global benchmarking. “We studied international best practices to design a policy that is future-ready, inclusive, and performance-oriented while prioritizing national interest,” he noted.
Stressing the importance of creating ecosystems that identify and support young talent, he added, “The culture of academies and professional leagues must be scaled nationwide.”
Concluding his address, Mandaviya called for unified action: “India’s rise as a sporting superpower requires the collective effort of government, industry, institutions, and, most importantly, the people.”
He also inaugurated the Sports Tech and Manufacturing Expo at Bharat Mandapam, attended by dignitaries including Smt. PT Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association; Nirmala Lakshman, Chairperson of The Hindu Group; and Ayon Sengupta, Editor of Sportstar.
