Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to inaugurate phase 2 of the KIRTI program
Sports Minister Dr. Mansukhbhai Mandaviya is all set to inaugurate phase 2 of the government’s ambitious Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) program in New Delhi on Friday, July 19.
The first phase of KIRTI was inaugurated by the previous Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur, in Chandigarh on March 12, 2024. The government aims to have 20 lakh assessments via KIRTI nationwide throughout the year to find the right talent through notified Talent Assessment Centres.
For the first time in India, a scouting and assessment program of this level will take place, as the nation aims to emerge as a top 10 sports country globally by 2036 and among the top five by 2047.
KIRTI program is prominent due to its transparent selection methodology based on Information Technology. Data analytics using Artificial intelligence are employed to predict the sporting potential of budding athletes.
The first phase of KIRTI received close to 4 lakh registrations
Moving into the details of the first phase, a total of 3,62,683 registrations took place from 70 centers. Around 51,000 assessments in 28 states and Union Territories have been made.
Two states that have always done well in Khelo Indian meets - Maharashtra and Haryana - have had the maximum number of assessments - 9168 and 4820, respectively. Interestingly, Assam was at the third spot with 4703 assessments.
The first phase’s assessments happened in 11 different disciplines, namely Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Football, Hockey, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wrestling. The most number of assessments took place in athletics (13804) and football (13483).
The Sports Minister, Dr. Mandaviya, will emphasize the project that aims to get 20 lakh assessments in the 2024-25 financial year across all states by treating districts as units of assessments.
This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to introduce sports to every child in the country through widespread participation, eventually achieving excellence through Khelo India’s structured programs.
Project Khelo India Rising Talent Identification, with its talent identification approach, will help in achieving the twin objectives of the Khelo India Scheme, i.e., excellence in sports and mass participation in sports.