New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday shared President Droupadi Murmu’s views that ongoing support for tribal athletes via initiatives such as the Khelo India Tribal Games is essential to cultivate a talent pool that will position India as a “global sports superpower”.

Highlighting the importance of the Khelo India Tribal Games, Mandaviya echoed the President’s view that nurturing tribal talent is a critical step toward India achieving international sports dominance.

Taking to X, he shared a piece written by President Murmu, in which she writes about the transformative power of sports through #KheloIndiaTribalGames 2026, outlining how talent, training, and opportunity can empower tribal youth and shape India’s global sporting future.

“Hon’ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji (@rashtrapatibhvn) writes about the immense sporting potential of our tribal youth and how the Khelo India Tribal Games will provide them with essential facilities,” he wrote in a caption.

“She emphasises that sustained encouragement to tribal sportspersons can create a pool of players who will establish India as a global sports superpower,” he added.

The President, who herself rose from these very roots, noted how players from tribal communities played a major part in India’s first Olympic gold medal in hockey in 1928 in her opinion piece for Times of India.

“India won its first Olympic gold medal in hockey in 1928. Players from tribal communities had an important role in that victory. Right since then, star hockey players such as Dilip Tirkey, Subodh Lakra, and Salima Tete have continued to enrich India’s men’s and women’s teams with their talent,” she wrote.

She also revealed that Like many children in tribal hamlets, she was “keenly interested in exercises and sports.”

“Like other tribal children in my village, I too was very keen on exercises and sports, including swimming. I often stood first in sports tournaments in my school. In one such tournament, I deliberately held myself back so that a friend of mine could enjoy the delight of winning the first prize. Sports develop team spirit and lead to stronger social bonding. Generally, it is observed that players who demonstrate fierce competition on the field have strong friendships off it,” the President wrote.

She further hailed the ‘Khelo India,’ initiative for providing appropriate sports ecosystems for all geographical regions, social segments.

“Under the national sports development program ‘Khelo India,’ of the Government of India, an inclusive effort is being made to provide appropriate sports ecosystems for all geographical regions, social segments, and institutions from the local to the national levels.

“Under this program, a scheme called ‘Asmita’, being implemented to promote the participation of girls in sports, is also developing the potential of our tribal daughters. Continued strengthening of the momentum built by ‘Khelo India Tribal Games 2026’ and sustained encouragement to tribal sportspersons will create a pool of players who will establish India as a global sports superpower.”

She concluded, “The sports-talent of our youth, including that of the tribal communities, forms an invaluable social capital for our nation. I am confident that, by harnessing this priceless resource effectively, our country will establish numerous glorious benchmarks of excellence in the field of sports. With this confidence, my message is: Khelo India! Khoob Khelo India!”

–IANS

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