Kiren Rijiju wants to make India a sporting superpower

The Union Sports Minister spoke to various PE teachers and community coaches.

India’s sports minister Kiren Rijiju stressed on the importance of a sports-friendly environment in the country and said that we need to create a culture of sports in India to become a sporting superpower.

He was speaking at the launch of a 25-day Khelo India Community Coach Development Program for 15,000 PE teachers and community coaches across India on Monday.

Kiren Rijiju said, “Earlier physical education in school used to be an adhoc arrangement and was never given much importance. But, if India has to be a sporting superpower we need to create a culture of sports in the country.”

He emphasized that community coaches and PE teachers have a big role to play in this process. The minister remarked, “Community coaches and PE teachers have a big role to play in reaching every child in every corner of India and motivating them to take up sports and fitness as part of their daily life. If the culture of sports can be developed, champions will automatically emerge.”

Kiren Rijiju applauded the Fit India Movement and said that the initiative has encouraged people to take up fitness as a way of life. This movement was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year to motivate people to adopt fitness and sporting activities in their daily routine.

Rijiju remarked, “The way our Honourable PM has envisioned the Fit India Movement, it has created an impact on citizens. Everyone always knew fitness is important, but with the movement people have been encouraged to take up fitness as a way of life.”

“We will work closely with the HRD ministry and start taking this to every school in India. Fitness should be a part of daily life, not something optional. This is the beginning and in a few years, this will have far-reaching effects and India will turn into a fitter country.”

PE teachers and community coaches will get proper knowledge and skills with this development program to help children in various fitness-related activities and organize age-appropriate fitness tests.