India’s sports ministry is considering creating around 12 new National Sports Leagues (NSLs). The initiative aims to leverage the country’s vast talent pool and strengthen efforts to host the 2036 Olympics. The planning stages, including identifying suitable sports, are well underway. The schedule has not yet been finalized and details will be announced soon.
These NSLs are eligible for the Khelo India program. The Sports Authority of India, league organizers and the relevant National Sports Federations (NSFs) will work closely together.
“The government is planning to introduce a National Sports League (NSL) under the ambitious Khelo India programme.The Government plans to introduce a National Sports League (NSL) under the ambitious Khelo India programme. (NSF) will work with them before introducing the league,” an official told PTI.
The goal is to establish a single unified league for each field, replacing the current system in which NSF and the department sometimes operate separate leagues. This streamlined approach aims to create a more cohesive and impactful sports ecosystem.
“After the introduction of NSL, there will be only one league in each sector. It will not be like the NSF will organize one league and the ministry will organize another,” the official said. .
Existing successful leagues that are financially independent and highly popular, such as the Hockey India League (HIL) and the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), will not be affected. The ministry is focused on supporting leagues that are struggling or facing financial difficulties.
“The government will only introduce leagues in those areas that are struggling or that have been introduced but have not been able to sustain themselves due to financial issues,” he said, adding that this meant that “leagues in these areas” “This is a way to discover talent in the sports field.” ”
The ministry’s efforts aim to discover and develop talent in sports where established and thriving leagues do not exist. The specific sports that will be included in the new league have not yet been announced, but are expected to be revealed soon.
The letter of intent submitted by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the 2036 Olympics does not specify a host city.
There have been no official discussions regarding a host city, although there is speculation that Ahmedabad could be the host. This Letter of Intent is simply a statement of India’s interest in hosting the Olympics.
“Look, it’s too early to say. India has only sent a letter of intent to the IOC. There is no mention of the host city. There are no discussions regarding the host city at this point,” the official said.
World Athletics (WA) President Sebastian Coe, who is a possible candidate for next year’s IOC presidency, recently met with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi.
During the meeting, Mandaviya informed Koh about India’s letter of intent to the IOC and steps being taken to strengthen its bid. Mr. Koh expressed his appreciation for India’s efforts and recent good performance at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
“The minister informed him that a letter of intent had been sent to the IOC and that India was doing it in its favor (to get the Olympic vote)…Koh highlighted all these facts. He also praised India’s performance at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games and said that India is rapidly emerging as a sporting nation.
India won a record 29 medals at the Paris Paralympics, including seven gold medals, and placed 18th overall. This achievement confirms India’s growing stature on the global sporting stage. The Ministry’s efforts to strengthen sports infrastructure through initiatives like the NSL further demonstrate the Ministry’s commitment to developing athletic talent and potentially hosting major international events such as the Olympics.
