True champions are discovered in small towns: Manoj Sinha

Srinagar, Apr 25: Emphasizing the importance of nurturing sports culture at the grassroots, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that true champions rarely emerge solely from elite academies; and they are discovered in small towns.
Addressing national ‘Chintan Shivir’ on Sports here, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that three-day event organised by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports focuses on key policy challenges in sports, strengthening Centre-States/UTs coordination and charting a comprehensive roadmap to transform India into a global sporting superpower.
The event is being attended by Sports Ministers from various states, sports administrators, Principal Secretaries from states and representatives from National Sports Federations.
Sinha stated that sports must become woven into everyday life, extending beyond stadiums and competitions to thrive in neighbourhoods, streets, and open fields, becoming part of daily routines.
The Lieutenant Governor also urged Sports Ministers and Sports Administrators, participating in the event to provide physical teachers in schools all the resources they require to support and nurture talents. “Physical education teachers in schools are often undervalued compared to their counterparts in science or mathematics. This mindset must change. Every Physical Education teacher plays a vital role in India’s journey toward becoming a sporting superpower. They deserve respect, recognition, and resources to identify and nurture young talent,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He said that beyond medals, sports must be harnessed as a force for social transformation.
“Infrastructure alone is not enough; it must be aligned with purposeful initiatives. Schools, communities, local administrations, and families must collaborate to create ecosystems where every young athlete finds a platform, whether on a running track, football field, basketball court or swimming pool to discover their potential,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor said that our strength lies in harmonizing national vision with local execution, ensuring central schemes reach villages brimming with talent. He also observed that best practices from one state must be freely shared and replicated across others.
“We must establish systems that identify and propel rural youth talent, supported by scientific, accessible, and unbiased mechanisms. Sports infrastructure must be fully and efficiently utilized,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He also called upon the corporate sector to support in building a sustainable and inclusive sports ecosystem, which the government alone cannot achieve. He said Corporates, with their resources and social responsibility, must step forward not merely as sponsors but as co-architects of this national mission.
“I urge sports councils, federations, administrators, experts, industry leaders, and officials from across the country to craft a strategic development plan aligned with international events. India is rich with gifted athletes. Our responsibility is to bridge the gap between gifted talent and opportunity. Strengthening grassroots sports ecosystems is not merely an aspiration but a duty,” the Lieutenant Governor said. (KNO)