India aims to be among top five sporting nations by 2047: Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya

AHMEDABAD: Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday said that India aspires to be counted among the top five sporting nations of the world by 2047, when the country celebrates the centenary of its independence.Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, Mandaviya underlined the government’s long-term vision under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“The Prime Minister has kept a goal to take the country among the top 10 in the world in the next 10 years. We have bid for the Olympics in 2036. In 2047 we will celebrate 100 years of our independence and PM Modi has set a goal to be among the top 5 sporting nations of the world by then,” he said.The minister highlighted reforms such as the Target Podium Olympic Scheme (TOPS), which he said is helping elite athletes get “the best exposure and support” to perform at the highest level.“To progress the sports ecosystem, Prime Minister Modi has developed a sports culture in the country in sequence. The third reform that happened was Sports Policy. Sports Policy will empower sports science, make sports accessible, build infrastructure, and bring in good governance,” Mandaviya added.He also referred to the recently introduced Sports Governance Bill, describing it as an “athlete-centric” legislation with emphasis on women’s representation in National Sports Federations.