Sports minister Thakur proposes to start Khelo India Tribal Games
HT Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Union sports minister Anurag Thakur has proposed Khelo India Tribal Games to nurture talents from far flung regions and bring them to national reckoning in sports. He mooted the idea during the twoday conference of state sports ministers in Kevadi, Gujarat.
The minister said that youngsters in tribal areas have a natural inclination towards sports and a genetic disposition for several sports like archery, athletics, hockey, wrestling, boxing and swimming.
“To ensure that such talent does not go untapped and can be used to add to India’s bench strength for international comcally petitions, the sports minister proposed that these talented youngsters be given a platform,” according to a ministry official who was present at the meeting.
The ‘Tribal Games’ will be aimed at identifying and grooming talent from the tribal areas since youth from these geographical areas and economibackward sections often do not have the means or exposure to participate in competitive sports at the national level.
The official said the move was welcomed by ministers and senior officials from several states like Goa, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
They said the Khelo India Tribal Games could act as a feeder for the Khelo India Youth Games and University Games in the initial years. The athletes could be nominated to participate in KIYG and KIUG, thus giving them an opportunity to compete at an all-india level.
The discussion was held on a day when Droupadi Murmu filed her nomination for president of India, the first tribal woman in India to ever do so.