Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) Program

Objectives of KIRTI

The KIRTI program has several key objectives:

Nationwide Talent Identification

• Conduct 20 lakh assessments across the country throughout the year to identify talent through notified Talent Assessment Centres
• Use IT tools to identify talent from every corner of the country and provide a common platform to showcase their abilities

Grassroots Talent Cultivation

• Reach the next level in global sports through a scouting and training program of this scale, which is a first in India
• Use a scientific approach by collaborating with physical education teachers and experts to identify talented athletes

Hierarchical Structure for Excellence

• Establish a pyramidal structure starting from the grassroots level and culminating in the development of elite athletes for achieving excellence at international platforms
• At the top of the pyramid sits the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, which has two divisions – core and developmental

Scientific Approach

The KIRTI program plans to use scientifically designed tests and tools to ensure accuracy and fairness in the selection process. The program will focus on ten sports disciplines currently part of the Khelo India initiative, including archery, athletics, boxing, football, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling.

Talent Identification through Bharat Benchmarks

Establish Bharat Benchmarks for performance measurement, providing a unified tool for performance assessment across various disciplines

Collaboration with Experts

Collaborate with physical education teachers and experts in scouting talent using scientific tools

Khelo India Mission

The KIRTI program is a part of the Khelo India Scheme, the flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. The Khelo India Mission aims to infuse sports culture and achieve sporting excellence in the country, allowing the populace to harness the power of sports through its cross-cutting influence.

Talent Identification and Development

• The “Talent Identification and Development” component of the Khelo India Scheme is dedicated to working towards the identification and development of athletes at the grassroots and elite levels to develop the sports ecosystem in the country

Endorsement by Neeraj Chopra

• Olympic and World Javelin Throw Champion, Neeraj Chopra, has praised the KIRTI initiative, stating that it can potentially provide the right balance between sports and studies
• Chopra believes that the Khelo India initiatives, including the Youth Games and University Games, are extremely well conducted and can help Indian sports move forward if athletes focus and capitalize on the platforms provided

Launch and Implementation

The KIRTI program was launched by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, in Chandigarh on March 12, 2024. The program aims to identify talented sportspersons from grassroots levels to the development of elite athletes for international excellence.

Pilot Launch

KIRTI made a solid launch across 50 centres in India, with fifty thousand applicants being assessed in the first phase across 10 sports

Expansion Plans

• The government has already spent Rs 3000 Crore on infrastructure and have more than 1000 Khelo India Centres across the country
• Two new National Centre of Excellence for Sports dedicated to women will be opened, where only women sports persons will be trained

Impact and Future Prospects

The KIRTI program has the potential to revolutionize the sports landscape in India by identifying and nurturing talent from every corner of the country. The program’s scientific approach and collaboration with experts are expected to yield significant results in the coming years.

Pathway for Aspiring Athletes

KIRTI will help bridge the gap between dreams and reality for aspiring athletes, providing them with a clear pathway to excel in their chosen sport

Curbing Addiction and Promoting Holistic Development

• The program aims to use sports as a tool to curb addiction towards drugs and other gadgetry distractions among the youth
• KIRTI emphasizes the importance of balancing sports and studies, ensuring the holistic development of young athletes

Achieving Global Excellence

• The KIRTI program is a crucial step towards India’s goal of becoming a top 10 sports nation in the world by 2036 and among the top five by 2047
• The program’s success will contribute to India’s ambition of hosting the Youth Olympics in 2030 and the Summer Olympics in 2036

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) program is a game-changer in India’s quest for sporting excellence. By identifying and nurturing talent from the grassroots level, the program aims to create a robust sports ecosystem that can produce world-class athletes capable of bringing glory to the nation on the global stage. The endorsement by Neeraj Chopra and the government’s commitment to infrastructure development and athlete welfare further strengthen the program’s potential for success.