Youth urged to embrace sports

Bhimavaram: Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Narsapur MP Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma called upon young people to actively participate in sports, develop leadership qualities and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Addressing the ‘Khelo India Samvad – Khel Ki Baat PM Ke Saath’ programme at Vishnu Institute of Technology (Autonomous) here on Thursday, the Union Minister said sports play a vital role in promoting a healthy lifestyle while fostering discipline, teamwork, leadership and self-confidence among students. The programme was organised by Dr BV Raju Foundation and Sri Vishnu Educational Society, here as part of the nationwide Khelo India Dialogue Programme being conducted by Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in connection with National Sports Day 2026.

Congratulating the students of Vishnu College, Srinivasa Varma also extended his greetings on the establishment of Vishnu Women’s University. He said the Khelo India Samvaad programme offered an important platform to encourage young people to take up sports, identify their talent and nurture future sportspersons.

With the 2036 Olympics in view, the Union Minister stressed the need to identify talented athletes from both rural and urban areas and provide them with quality training, infrastructure and encouragement. He urged students to make effective use of platforms such as MY Bharat to develop their skills, leadership abilities and sense of social responsibility. Assembly Deputy Speaker Kanumuri Raghurama Krishna Raju, who was chief guest, said National Sports Day was observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.

He said several initiatives were being undertaken under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to encourage greater participation of youth in sports. Apart from improving sports facilities in schools and colleges, efforts were being made to strengthen sporting infrastructure at mandal headquarters, he added.

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The Hans India