Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates 38th National Games in Dehradun, celebrates sports milestones

DEHRADUN: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 38th National Games on Tuesday at a grand ceremony held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun.

The opening event witnessed Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen carrying the National Games torch to the stage, where the Prime Minister was joined by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and other dignitaries.

Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, Modi emphasized the significance of the National Games and the milestone it represents for Uttarakhand. “This year marks the 25th anniversary of Uttarakhand’s formation, and thousands of youth from across the country will showcase their talent in this vibrant and young state,” Modi said.

During his speech, Modi also highlighted India’s growing achievements in sports and the nation’s aspiration to host the 2036 Olympic Games. “Our Kho-Kho team clinched the Gold Medal, and Gukesh D became the World Chess Champion. This shows that in India, sports are no longer just extracurricular activities but are now being pursued as primary career options. India is putting in efforts to host the Olympic Games in 2036,” he added.

Modi emphasised that the Khelo India Youth Games has provided opportunities for many young players to advance while the University Games offer many opportunities to University students. He remarked that the Khelo India Para Games helped the Para athletes in improving their performance and creating new achievements. The Prime Minister recalled that recently the 5th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games held in Ladakh and mentioned that last year, the Beach Games were organized.

Prime Minister emphasized his complete confidence in the talent and potential of the athletes. The Prime Minister highlighted the continuous focus on supporting their talent over the past 10 years and the sports budget had more than tripled in the last decade. He added that under the TOPS scheme, hundreds of crores of rupees were being invested in dozens of athletes. He underscored that the Khelo India program was  building modern sports infrastructure across the country. Modi highlighted that sports were mainstreamed in schools, and the country's first sports university was being established in Manipur.

The National Games will see participation from around 10,000 athletes and officials representing 38 teams over 18 days. Alongside Dehradun, six other cities—Haridwar, Nainital, Haldwani, Rudrapur, Shivpuri, and New Tehri—will host various events. (Agency)

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