Thiruvananthapuram, September 9 (Udaipur Kiran) : The Central Government is gearing up to promote the ‘Khelo India’ initiative, aiming to enhance opportunities for identifying sports talent in Kerala and preparing athletes for national and international competitions. Dr. N. Sharath Chandra Yadav, Regional Director of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Thiruvananthapuram, emphasized the state’s potential to significantly contribute to India’s medal tally in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, particularly in sports like canoeing, kayaking, rowing, and fencing.
Dr. Yadav stated that the central government will work alongside the state government to strengthen Kerala’s sports ecosystem, focusing on grassroots talent identification and continuous support for athletes. Speaking to the media about the revised Khelo India scheme for 2026-31, he mentioned that competitions such as the State School Sports Meet will play a crucial role in spotting promising young athletes. Coaches associated with the Khelo India program will be instrumental in discovering and nurturing this talent. The revamped scheme will also facilitate the establishment of multiple Khelo India centers in each district.
Currently, Kerala boasts 23 Khelo India centers, one Khelo India State Centre of Excellence, and nine Khelo India-recognized academies. The program’s scope has expanded to nine key areas, including sports infrastructure, competitions and leagues, talent identification, training facilities, coach and support staff development, the Fit India movement, and sports technology.
According to SAI officials, the revised scheme has been allocated ₹36,441 crore for the period of 2026-31, a significant increase compared to previous allocations. The number of athletes benefitting from this program is expected to rise sharply. The enhanced scheme will provide financial assistance to 9,000 Khelo India athletes and 18,000 emerging athletes, covering training, meals, accommodation, sports kits, and education.
With a greater emphasis on competitions and leagues, athletes will have more opportunities to compete, assess their performance, and reach higher levels. The emerging performance pipeline from SAI’s Thiruvananthapuram center is evident, with 29 athletes set to participate in the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games across various disciplines including athletics, fencing, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, and rowing.
Dr. Yadav concluded that the revamped Khelo India program has the potential to strengthen Kerala’s sports sector, from grassroots talent discovery to preparing athletes capable of competing on international stages.
Assistant Director Nimisha Pechara also shared insights about the revised scheme and the opportunities it presents for Kerala. The event was attended by Arjuna Award winners Mohammad Azmal and Saji Thomas, SAI Deputy Director Varsha Sable, Assistant Director Selvamani A, and Kerala Olympic Association President V. Sunil Kumar.
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