New Delhi: On Thursday, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced two significant initiatives and emphasized to certain errant National Sports Federations (NSF) the need to avoid “factionalism” and embrace an “athlete-centric” strategy.

Mandaviya stated that India is eager to host the 2036 Olympics and has also expressed interest in securing the 2030 Commonwealth Games, making it essential for the government, federations, and athletes to collaborate with coordination and consultation for a unified objective.

“There is no justification for us not being able to develop athletes and still lag behind in the Olympics. My assessment indicates that we fall short in exerting a timely joint effort. We recognize the areas where we are deficient, but we fail to take action.

“When conflicts arise due to factions within a federation, athletes are the ones who suffer. I do not wish for the nation’s athletes to be hurt in any way. It is as much the duty of the government as it is of the federations. I do not intend to meddle in the internal affairs of the federations, but that does not imply that federations should not adhere to an athlete-centric approach. On an individual basis, I want to engage with such factions to discuss matters and find a resolution,” Mandaviya stated while addressing the gathering of federations and athletes at the IG Stadium here.

Recently, rifts within several federations have become apparent during elections, affecting governance. Boxing, golf, kabaddi, and equestrian are among the federations facing governance challenges. Wrestling, one of India’s prominent sports, has emerged back into focus after a lengthy period.

Fresh projects

The initial initiative revealed was the distribution of sports certificates through DigiLocker, which would assist athletes in securely storing their certificates in a digital format and presenting them when required for employment and government programs.

Mandaviya stated that sports certificates issued through DigiLocker will be connected with the National Sports Repository System (NSRS) shortly, facilitating the automatic transfer of government cash incentives directly into athletes’ bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Mandaviya indicated that the DigiLocker initiative will be mandatory for all federations since numerous athletes miss out on job opportunities and other government advantages because of delays in certificate verification.

A senior official from a major federation mentioned to HT that their athletes have been using DigiLocker for their certificates, but government agencies continue to request physical verified copies.

"In two editions of National Games (Gujarat and Goa) we have digitised certificates, but when athletes present them to government agencies, they decline to recognize them. The sports ministry must first instruct all such agencies to accept digital certificates. "

Olympic facilities

Mandaviya also launched a National Centre for Sports Science and Research at the IG Stadium. NCSSR will function as a center for advanced research, education, and innovation aimed at improving elite athletes' performance.

The government intends to establish Olympic centers and associate one corporate entity with each sport. “I have observed and analyzed the training programs of Japan, the US, European nations, and drawn insights from them,” Mandaviya stated. “In the near future, every sport will be linked to one Olympic center supported by a corporate sector. It will be an Olympic center of international standards where 100 athletes can prepare and receive all exposure --coaching and training amenities under one roof. Such a system is necessary; only then will we earn medals. It requires collaborative efforts focused on athletes, and we must align our objectives. ”

The goal is to enhance SAI’s National Centre of Excellence with superior facilities. He mentioned that federations must leverage all such reforms — whether it involves streamlining governance or a new approach to training elite athletes.

“One federation will receive backing from one corporate entity. Each SAI center of excellence will be improved. ”

Read Also: Yashasvi Jaiswal Fumes After Josh Hazlewood’s Fiery Send-Off; Umpire Steps In to Defuse Tensions

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!