Thiruvananthapuram, September 9 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian government is gearing up to promote the Khelo India program, which aims to enhance sports development in Kerala. The revamped scheme is expected to provide more opportunities for identifying sports talent and preparing athletes for national and international competitions.
Dr. N. Sharath Chandra Yadav, the Regional Director of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Thiruvananthapuram, stated on Wednesday that Kerala has significant potential to contribute to India’s medal tally at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, particularly in sports like canoeing, kayaking, rowing, and fencing.
The central government plans to work closely with the state government to strengthen Kerala’s sports ecosystem. This collaboration will focus on grassroots talent identification and continuous support for athletes.
Speaking to the media about the revised Khelo India scheme for 2026-2031, Yadav mentioned that competitions such as the State School Sports Meet will help identify promising young athletes. Coaches associated with the Khelo India program will play a crucial role in discovering and nurturing this talent. The new scheme will also facilitate the establishment of multiple Khelo India centers in every district.
Currently, Kerala boasts 23 Khelo India centers, one Khelo India State Center of Excellence, and nine Khelo India-recognized academies.
The scope of the program has expanded to cover nine major 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 an allocation of ₹36,441 crores for 2026-2031, significantly higher than previous allocations. The number of athletes benefiting from this program is also expected to rise rapidly.
The increased funding will provide financial assistance to 9,000 Khelo India athletes and 18,000 emerging Khelo India athletes. This support includes training, meals, accommodation, sports kits, and education.
By placing greater emphasis on competitions and leagues, the program aims to offer athletes more opportunities to compete, evaluate their performance, and reach higher levels. The performance pipeline emerging from SAI’s Thiruvananthapuram center illustrates this potential, with 29 athletes preparing to participate in the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in athletics, fencing, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, and rowing.
Yadav emphasized that the revamped Khelo India program could significantly strengthen Kerala’s sports sector, from grassroots talent discovery to preparing athletes capable of competing internationally.
Assistant Director Nimisha Pechara discussed the opportunities presented by the revised scheme. The event also featured Arjuna Award winners Mohammad Azmal and Saji Thomas, SAI Deputy Director Varsha Sable, Assistant Director Selvamani A, and V. Sunil Kumar, President of the Kerala Olympic Association.
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