India strong contender for 2036 Olympics; talent hunt to ensure large…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India is a strong contender to host the 2036 Olympics and to ensure that the country has a strong presence in the mega event, a nationwide talent hunt would be launched to identify prospects in the age group of 5 to 15.

Addressing the country from the ramparts of Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, Modi said the government’s flagship Target Olympic Podium Scheme, which was launched in 2014, has been a major success in providing support to athletes.

“India is making space for itself in the world of sports. We hear our national anthem frequently and see our tri-colour going up very often. TOPS has achieved great success. Whether it is Khelo India Games, University Games, Beach Games, Winter Games, or sports training, sports medicine, sports nutrition, India is moving ahead at great pace," he said. sport-tr.bet

“India’s performance is improving, and we are strong contenders to become an Olympic host in 2036. We are hosting the CWG in 2030. There are about 40 disciplines in Olympics, with nearly 350 events. It is sad that we are not able even compete in at least two third of these events because we are not even able to qualify.”

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“We have decided that in 2036, we should have participation in at least three fourth events. We are launching a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to identify prospects in every corner of the country. They will get special training to become world class athletes," he added.

India is hosting the 2030 CWG in Ahmedabad, which is also in the race to host the 2036 Olympics.

Australia vs Bangladesh 1st Test: डार्विन में ऑस्ट्रेलिया के खिलाफ पहले टेस्ट मैच के तीसरे दिन बांग्लादेश की पहली पारी रिकॉर्ड 426 रन पर समाप्‍त हुई। ये ऑस्‍ट्रेलिया की धरती पर उसका सबसे बड़ा टेस्‍ट टोटल है। इससे पहले वह कभी 300 का आंकड़ा भी पार नहीं कर सकी थी। इसके साथ ही बांग्लादेश ने पहली पारी के आधार पर 228 रन की बड़ी बढ़त हासिल की है, जो कि एशिया के बार पहली पारी में मिली सबसे बड़ी लीड भी है। इतना ही नहीं मेहमान बांग्‍लादेश की इस शानदार पारी के चलते कई रिकॉर्ड बने और टूटे हैं। आइये एक नजर उन रिकॉर्ड पर डालते हैं।

While India attained political freedom on 15 August 1947, it achieved a form of sporting freedom a year later at the 1948 London Olympics. For a newly independent India, the London Games were more than a sporting event. They offered an opportunity for assertion and provided a stage for a young country to establish itself among the world’s successful sporting nations.

The Indian hockey team satisfied that national yearning, winning its fourth consecutive Olympic gold after triumphs at Amsterdam in 1928, Los Angeles in 1932 and Berlin in 1936. The golden journey did not stop in 1948 but continued until 1964, with a brief silver interlude in 1960, when India had to cede top spot to arch-rivals Pakistan.

When India won gold at the London Olympic hockey stadium in 1948, defeating England 4–0 in the final, much more than an Olympic victory was scripted. It was a newly independent nation’s declaration against the forces of colonialism, retribution for the humiliation inflicted by the English over almost 200 years and, finally, a statement to the world about the significance of sport in an era of decolonisation. Hockey, the victory demonstrated, held the promise of becoming the new opiate of the masses.

For many in the country, the sport offered a substitute for religion as a source of emotional attachment and spiritual passion. For many others, since it was among the earliest memorable post-Independence experiences, it infiltrated memory, shaped enthusiasms and served fantasies. Though claims of hockey being the ‘national’ game of the country originated as far back as the turn of the century and gathered momentum after the victories at Amsterdam, Los Angeles and Berlin, it was not until London that hockey’s supremacy was assured.

Compared with the Games of 1928, 1932 and 1936, London 1948 offered a fundamentally different challenge for Indian hockey. More importantly, the players, for the first time, were not representing British India but playing for their motherland. This was the first time Indians were playing under the new tricolour and against the British, under whose imperial flag they had participated in previous Games.

It is pertinent to recount this achievement today, on Independence Day, as India takes the field at the World Cup in the Netherlands. The build-up has been anything but ideal, with the jersey controversy dominating the headlines. But it is time for everyone back home to move beyond such issues and focus on the game at hand.

With the Asian Games a month later, a strong World Cup performance can create momentum for a sport that badly needs it. While the women are not expected to make the podium, we do expect a strong showing from them, with the team pushing some of the more fancied sides in the world. In contrast, the men are expected to win a medal, and anything less would be a disappointment.

Hockey, yet again, has a chance to galvanise the nation. Let’s do our bit to help the players do so.

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 14 (ANI): Tata Steel has agreed to transfer its equity shares in Jamshedpur Football & Sporting Private Limited (JFSPL) to Churchill Brothers Football Club, paving the way for the historic Goan club to enter the Indian Super League (ISL) for the 2026-27 season.

According to a press release from Tata Steel, the agreement was signed on Friday. The agreement includes the transfer of Jamshedpur FC’s ISL sporting licence, along with the contracts of 12 players and two coaches. The transfer has been undertaken in accordance with the regulations of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Churchill Brothers will take over the contracts of the players and coaching staff from September 2026, ensuring continuity for the Jamshedpur FC personnel and allowing them to continue their professional careers in the ISL.

“Churchill Brothers is a club with real history in Indian football, and we are glad that this agreement gives our players and coaches the opportunity to continue playing club football. We thank AIFF and Churchill Brothers for their partnership in making this transition a smooth one. Tata Steel will continue to focus on football at the grassroots and youth level, given our legacy of identifying and nurturing young talent, especially among local and tribal communities," Tata Steel Vice President, Corporate Services, DB Sundara Ramam said.

“This includes the Tata Football Academy, which has trained 150 cadets who have represented India and 26 captains of national teams across various age groups. We will continue to maintain and enhance our sporting infrastructure – repurposing it for grassroots football and athlete development. We will be modernising our youth system, investing in and further building its capability in collaboration with the AIFF," he added.

The development marks Churchill Brothers’ return to India’s top-flight football after a 14-year absence. The Goan club has a history spanning nearly four decades and has won two I-League titles.

Churchill Brothers welcomed the development and described it as a new chapter for Goan football, while thanking the AIFF and its Executive Committee for enabling the move.

“Goa deserves people who believe. That is what legacy truly means. That is what being Goa’s own means. A family that has been here for 4.5 decades, competing, fighting and building football in India long before the ISL existed," the club said in an Instagram post.

The club added, “We would also like to thank AIFF and its Executive Committee for recognising this opportunity and enabling this next chapter of Indian football to take shape."

Churchill Brothers also called for the revival of the traditional Goa football rivalry, saying, “For years, Goa missed something — the fire. The rivalry. The derby!!!! Now the old rivalry gets a new chapter. Get ready, Goa. Your family is back."

The transaction is expected to be completed by August 31, subject to customary clearances from the AIFF. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

New Delhi [India], August 15 (ANI): Indian cricketing legends and prominent players extended greetings to the nation on Saturday, with several taking to social media to mark the country’s 80th Independence Day.

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Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar shared a picture featuring the Indian national flag and wrote, “Happy Independence Day!"

Team India T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer also extended his greetings, writing, “Happy Independence Day" on X.

Indian spin legend Anil Kumble wished the nation, saying, “Happy Independence Day! Jai Hind."

Former India women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj also extended her greetings and wrote, “Wishing everyone a very Happy 80th Independence Day!"

Former India captain Rohit Sharma shared a picture of himself in Team India’s jersey and wrote while sharing an Instagram story, “Always proud to carry the Happy Independence Day!"

The cricketers joined people across the country in celebrating India’s Independence Day and expressing their patriotic spirit on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reiterated India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympics and announced a nationwide talent hunt to identify sporting talent among children aged five to 15 years, while addressing the nation on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day.

Addressing the nation from the iconic Red Fort on Saturday, PM Modi said India’s performance in sports has been improving, and the country is moving forward as a strong contender to bid for the 2036 Olympics.

Highlighting the scope of the Olympic Games, the Prime Minister said there are around 40 sports and nearly 325-350 events, but India does not participate or qualify in nearly two-thirds of them.

“In 2030, India is also going to host the Commonwealth Games," PM Modi said.

“We have decided that the Olympics 2036 should be held in India. In the disciplines in which India does not play or qualify, India will focus on these disciplines, and we will launch a talent hunt campaign," he added.

PM Modi said India needs to identify and nurture young talent in preparation for the 2036 Olympics, particularly children who are currently five, 10 or 15 years old.

“We have to pay attention to our sons and daughters. Therefore, a talent hunt campaign will be conducted in every village, every city and every school to identify sporting talent among children aged five to 15," he said.

The Prime Minister said the identified talent would be provided specialised training to prepare them to represent the country at the highest level.

“Their talent will be identified and, after providing them specialised training, they will be prepared to become good players representing the country," PM Modi said. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)