UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji, Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan Shukla ji, young players, coaches, parents and colleagues!

At the outset, I bow down to the holy land of Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath. I congratulate and extend my best wishes to all the players who are participating in the ‘Saansad Khel’ competition. You all have worked very hard. Some players must have won in this competition, while some others must have faced defeat. Be it the playground or the field of life, victory and defeat is part of it. I would urge the players that if they have come this far, they are not a loser. You have learned a lot, gained knowledge and experience and this is the biggest capital to victory. You will realize how your sports spirit will open doors of success for you in future.

My young friends,

I am told that along with sports events like wrestling, kabaddi, hockey, artists have also participated in painting, folk songs, folk dance, tabla, flute etc. in this competition. This is a very beautiful, commendable and inspiring initiative. Whether it is talent in sports or art and music, its spirit and its energy are the same. It is also our shared moral responsibility to take forward our Indian traditions, which are folk customs. Ravi Kishan ji himself is such a talented artist, so it is natural that he understands the importance of art very well. I specially congratulate Ravi Kishan ji for organizing this event.

Friends,

I am participating in the third such Saansad Khel Mahakumbh in the last few weeks. I believe that if India has to become the best sporting power in the world, then we have to find new ways and create new systems. This Saansad Khel Mahakumbh is one such way and system. It is very important that there should be regular sports competitions at the local level in order to improve the sports talents. Such competitions at the Lok Sabha level not only enhance the local talents, but also boost the morale of the players of the entire region. You see, about 18,000-20,000 players took part when the Khel Mahakumbh was held in Gorakhpur. This time this number has increased to around 24,000-25,000. About 9,000 of these young players comprise our daughters. There are thousands of youth among you who have come from small villages or small towns. This shows how Saansad Khel competitions are becoming a new platform to give new opportunities to young players.

Friends,

We often see children in their teenage years hanging from something high or holding the branch of a tree in a bid to increase their height. That is, no matter what the age, there is always an inherent desire to stay fit. There was a time when there used to be a lot of sports activities and games in the village fairs. Various games were also organized in the akhadas. But times changed and all these old systems gradually started to decline. The situation became such that the PT periods in schools were also considered as time pass periods. The country lost its three-four generations due to such an approach. As a result, neither sports facilities grew in India nor new sports systems took shape. When you watch different talent hunt programs on TV, you find that many children are from small towns. Similarly, there is a lot of hidden and latent potential in our country which is eager to come out. Saansad Khel Mahakumbh has a big role in bringing out such potential in the world of sports. Today, hundreds of BJP MPs are organizing such sporting events in the country. Just imagine, such a large number of young players are getting an opportunity to move forward. Many of these players would go on to play at the state and national level. Many among you will emerge who will win medals for the country in international events like the Olympics. Therefore, I consider Saansad Khel Mahakumbh as a strong foundation on which a grand edifice of the future is going to be built.

Friends,

Along with events like Khel Mahakumbh, today the country's emphasis is on building sports facilities at the local level in small towns. The Regional Sports Stadium of Gorakhpur is a great example of this. More than 100 playgrounds have also been made for the youth in the rural areas of Gorakhpur. I am told that a rural mini stadium is also being built at Chauri Chaura. Under the Khelo India Movement, along with other sports facilities, attention is also being given to the training of players. Now the country is moving forward with a holistic vision. Several provisions have been made in this regard in this year's budget. Compared to 2014, the budget of the Sports Ministry is almost three times more now. Today many modern stadiums are being built in the country. Through schemes like TOPS, assistance of lakhs of rupees is being given to the players for training. Along with Khelo India, campaigns like Fit India and Yoga are also gaining momentum. Emphasis is being laid on Millets i.e. coarse grains for good nutrition. Coarse grains like jowar, bajra, etc come under the category of super foods. That's why now the country has given the coarse grains the identity of Shree Anna. All of you have to join these campaigns and lead this mission of the country. Today the way Indian players are winning medals in Olympics and other big tournaments, young players like you will take forward that legacy.

I have full faith that all of you will shine and will bring laurels to the country with your successes. With best wishes, thank you very much to all of you!

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.

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DS/VK/AK