SAI Governing Body Meeting Focuses on 2036 Olympic Preparation
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the 63rd Governing Body Meeting of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), emphasizing the urgent need to accelerate talent identification to build India's athlete pool for the 2036 Olympics. The Minister stated that the groundwork for India's sporting ambitions over the next decade must begin immediately, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of a nationwide sports talent hunt from the Red Fort.
Dr. Mandaviya outlined a two-stage talent identification process: first identifying athletes performing well at state and district levels, then mapping these athletes to assess their potential, fitness, passion, dedication, and ability to progress to higher levels. The talent identification should cover the entire sporting pyramid including schools, districts, and colleges, with the aim of building a comprehensive talent repository that can feed into sports schools and higher-level training systems.
The Minister emphasized developing a public-private partnership (PPP) model to expand the training ecosystem, where athletes identified through state and district-level talent hunts could be channeled to suitable academies for specialized training. He also highlighted the important role of the corporate sector in expanding sports development through greater CSR participation, which would help augment the country's training capacity beyond government-run facilities.
As concrete decisions, the Governing Body approved the establishment of the National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB), which is a key component of the revamped Khelo India Scheme and will provide a structured framework for coach accreditation and development. The Body also approved a proposed amendment to the recruitment rules for appointment to the post of Assistant Coach (Pay Level-6) on deputation basis in SAI.
Dr. Mandaviya emphasized the need to maintain momentum in India's sports ecosystem development, stating that rising expectations from the government and growing interest in sports among Indians require the country to accelerate its efforts three times to steadfast sports projects and fulfil the new vision for a new generation.