Five things to expect from Mansukh Mandaviya as new Sports Minister

Mansukh Mandaviya became a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat at the age of 38.

The recently-concluded election in India witnessed the third term of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of the nation. While forming the cabinet, the Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, Mansukh Mandaviya, was given the responsibility of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in the country. 

In the last couple of years, India’s performance, starting from the Olympics to the Asian Games, has improved, including the number of medals. Still, there are certain areas that need to be taken care of for the development of the country’s sporting culture. 

With the appointment of a new Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports in the nation, every sports enthusiast will look forward to his work and how he puts forward every step for a better future for youth in the field of sports. 

In this article, we will take a look at the five things that are to be expected from the new sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya. 

5. Infrastructural development for sports around the country

The first and foremost point that needs to be highlighted is the infrastructural development for sports in the country. Although there are certain states in India that are looking way ahead in the current situation and trying to put up academies and other facilities for athletes, there are others where the sports culture has to be developed. 

Proper stadiums for every sport, including the required facilities for training, are going to be the key if India intends to get into the top ranks in the world. 

4. Better monetary sanction for development purposes

A major issue that might act as a barrier to the development of sports is monetary funds. There needs to be a proper allotment of funds after thorough analysis as per the requirements of the athletes in different sports. 

Even though the budgets for sports have seen a rise in the recent past as the government is keen on the expansion of stadiums and academies, which includes both the development of facilities and the allotment of space for training and matches, it still requires huge amounts to make it available for people in every corner of the country. 

3. Expansion of youth sports initiatives

Youths are the future of the country, especially for a country like India, which is in a developing stage. Attracting young children towards sports and educating them regarding the necessity of sports in their lives has now become a major constituent for every government. 

There have been certain initiatives for youth attraction, such as Khelo India by the central government and NUA-O by the Odisha government, which provided a platform for students from schools, colleges and universities as well. 

2. Possible call on PIOs representing India in international sports

PIO (Persons of Indian Origin)—most of us must have come across this term quite a few times. These are people of Indian heritage who are settled in other countries but have shown interest in representing India at the international level in different sports. 

Majorly, the All India Football Federation has been waiting for an opportunity to avail the services of such players for the development of the sport in the country. Unfortunately, the rules for PIOs have been a point of debate for several years.

A player who is willing to represent India can’t have two passports and has to stay in India for at least 12 months before applying for citizenship. If Mansukh Mandaviya succeeds in bringing in legislation that can benefit some sports, it will be a huge achievement for him during his tenure as a minister. 

Also Read: Mansukh Mandaviya named Sports Minister in Modi 3.0 government

1. An eye on hosting Olympics in India

India hosting the Olympics is not the dream of some players or the government but of every person who has ever followed sports. Although the Prime Minister has already stated that India will bid for the 2036 Olympics, it will be interesting to see whether the result comes out in favour of the nation. 

The Olympics, being one of the biggest sporting events in the world, will surely require a good deal of development in the city or location where it is going to be held. With it, India’s performance also has to be above the mark, which will be a huge attention-seeker for the youth as well. A step towards this also has to be taken to put India on the global map of sports. 

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