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National Sports Day 2026: Anurag Thakur Pays Tribute to Dhyan Chand

Former Union Cabinet Minister and Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur on Saturday attended National Sports Day celebrations at the SAI National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Hamirpur, where he paid tribute to legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand. Dhyan Chands Legacy of Discipline and Patriotism Thakur said Major Dhyan Chands contribution to Indian sport went beyond the medals and victories he won for the country. His legacy, he said, reflects values such as discipline, dedication, perseverance and patriotism. He described National Sports Day as an opportunity to honour Dhyan Chands legacy while reaffirming the commitment to building a strong sporting culture where every child has the opportunity to discover, pursue and excel in a sport. Sports Ministry Budget Sees Major Increase Highlighting the growth of Indias sporting ecosystem, Thakur said the allocation for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has risen significantly, from Rs.1,643 crore in 2014-15 to Rs.4,479.88 crore in 2026-27. He said the increased investment reflects the countrys growing focus on developing sporting infrastructure and nurturing athletes. India Wins 39 Medals at 2026 Commonwealth Games Thakur also highlighted Indias performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. India competed in only 10 disciplines, with several traditional medal-winning sports not included in the Games. Despite these limitations, India finished fourth in the medal standings with 39 medals, including 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze. He said strong performances in boxing, athletics, weightlifting and judo demonstrated the growing depth and competitiveness of Indian athletes. Praise for SAI NCOE Hamirpur Athletes Thakur also praised the SAI National Centre of Excellence in Hamirpur, which currently trains athletes across six disciplines athletics, badminton, boxing, hockey, judo and wrestling. He highlighted several achievements by athletes associated with the centre, including Mansi Singhs gold medal at the All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament, nine medals at the Himachal Pradesh Senior State Badminton Championship and impressive performances by the centres judokas at Khelo India competitions. Khelo India 2.0 to Build Pathway for Future Champions Welcoming the recently approved Khelo India 2.0 programme, Thakur said it marks a major shift from simply supporting sporting competitions to creating a comprehensive athlete-development system. According to him, the programme will establish a pathway for athletes stretching from schools and grassroots programmes to the Olympic podium. Focus on Grassroots Talent Identification Thakur particularly welcomed the introduction of Khelo India Feeder Schools, saying the initiative will connect schools with the broader sporting ecosystem and help identify and nurture talented youngsters at an early stage. He said expanding the Emerging Khelo India Athletes (E-KIA) pool, integrating sports with education, using scientific talent identification methods, applying sports science and technology-based athlete monitoring, and creating a structured pathway from basic training to elite competition will help India build a larger pool of future sporting champions. ALSO READ: Praggnanandhaa Makes History, Wins Grand Chess Tour 2026 Title

30 Aug 2026 11:27 am