Varanasi, January 04: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that after the year 2014, India’s sports model has become athlete-centric. Scientific identification of talent, modern training, nutrition and transparent selection process have given players the opportunity to progress. Today, every sector of the country is riding the reform express and major reforms are taking place in the sports sector too. Provisions like the National Sports Governance Act and Khelo India Policy 2025 will provide opportunities to the right talent.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing after virtually inaugurating the 72nd National Volleyball Tournament held in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Sunday.
Addressing over 1,000 athletes and their coaches virtually at a ceremony held at the local Dr. Sampurnanand Sports Stadium on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India’s performance in various sports has steadily improved since 2014, and he feels proud to see Gen-Z athletes hoisting the Indian flag on the field.
Encouraging the players and coaches, the Prime Minister stated that India is now becoming not only a hub of development but also a global hub of sports. He emphasized that volleyball is not a simple sport. It is a game of balance and cooperation, demonstrating determination. Volleyball connects us with team spirit. Every player’s mantra is “team first.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that volleyball teaches us that victory is not possible alone, but success is achieved through coordination, trust, and team spirit. The mantra in volleyball is to keep the ball aloft under all circumstances. This sport teaches that every player has an important role and that success is achieved only when everyone fulfills their responsibilities honestly.
He said that India’s development journey is progressing in this spirit—from the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to digital payments, from “Make in India” to the goal of a developed India. The Prime Minister said that our country is also moving forward in this spirit. He said that reaching the national level is not easy for any athlete. Players reach this stage after years of hard work, discipline, and determination. Now, their hard work will be tested on the grounds of Kashi.
He wished all the athletes participating in the championship their best wishes.
The Prime Minister said that teams from over 28 states are participating in this competition, which presents a vivid picture of ‘Ek Bharat-Shrestha Bharat’.
Prime Minister Modi said, “There is a saying: ‘If you want to know Banaras, you have to come to Banaras…’ Now that you have all come to Banaras, you will also get a closer understanding of its culture.” He said that Banaras has always produced excellent athletes for the sports world.
He said that for thousands of years, Kashi has welcomed all those who come here to pursue knowledge and art. It is a city of sports lovers, where many sports like wrestling, boxing, boat racing, and kabaddi are famous. He informed that India is making serious efforts to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics to provide maximum opportunities to athletes.
The Prime Minister said that Kashi has also benefited from the changes in sports infrastructure. Modern stadiums and major events have given Varanasi a new identity on the national sports map.
Kashi is increasingly becoming the center of major events, first with the G-20 meeting, then the Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan, and now the National Volleyball Championship.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his gratitude for Prime Minister Modi’s virtual address. He said that this event is a moment of pride for Kashi and Uttar Pradesh.
The Chief Minister said that in the last eleven and a half years, the country has witnessed unprecedented change. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India has presented a model of modern development with its ancient heritage, which every Indian is proud of today. Through welfare schemes, even those at the bottom of society are becoming self-reliant by taking advantage of government schemes.
He said that sports are not just a means of passing time, but are the foundation of all-round development of life. Indian wisdom has taught since ancient times that a healthy mind and a successful life reside in a healthy body. Taking this philosophy forward, ‘Khelo India’, the ‘Fit India Movement’, the Members of Parliament Sports Competition, and the state’s developing modern sports infrastructure have given a new direction to sports culture. After formally inaugurating the championship, the Chief Minister welcomed and congratulated the athletes and the large number of athletes, public representatives, and sports lovers present.
During this, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inspected various sports divisions of the Dr Sampurnanand Sports Stadium and also interacted with the athletes present at the shooting range.
Also present on the occasion were Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ravindra Jaiswal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH and Food Security Dr. Dayashankar Mishra ‘Dayalu’, District Panchayat President Poonam Maurya, Mayor Ashok Tiwari, MLA Dr Neelkanth Tiwari, MLC Hansraj Vishwakarma, MLC Dharmendra Rai, Commissioner S. Rajalingam, Olympian medalist IAS officer Suhas LY, District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar, etc.