Brief
Athlete Elavenil Valarivan credits Modi’s 25‑year tenure for sport‑development push
Elavenil Valarivan describes how Modi’s initiatives like Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme have shaped her career.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Olympian Elavenil Valarivan told PTI that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25‑year tenure has left a lasting imprint on Indian sport, citing personal encounters and national programmes such as Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme.
What happened
Valarivan, a former Asian Games competitor, recalled meeting Modi as a child when the Khokhara Sports Complex opened. She later met him before the Tokyo Olympics, noting his memory of her Maninagar residence. After the Tokyo Games, Modi encouraged her to stay focused despite a disappointing result. She also participated in Gujarat’s Khel Mahakumbh, a state‑level initiative that fed into the national Khelo India programme.
What the reports add
The New Indian Express article provides numbers for Khelo India: since 2018, more than 63,000 athletes have taken part and over 1,000 training centres have been set up. It also details the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, which has supported 233 athletes, including 52 para‑athletes, with coaching, equipment and overseas exposure.
What was said
Valarivan said, “He remembered that I lived in Maninagar, which he had represented, and asked about the sports facilities there,” as reported by the New Indian Express. She added, “A bad result can stay in your head for days. Someone telling you to move on can help.”
How it came about
Modi’s interest in sport dates back to his time as Gujarat chief minister, when he launched Khel Mahakumbh to encourage children’s participation. The scheme later evolved into the national Khelo India programme, which aims to provide grassroots infrastructure and competition opportunities. At the elite level, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme was introduced to alleviate financial pressures on athletes and their families.
Key facts
- Elavenil Valarivan met Narendra Modi at the opening of Khokhara Sports Complex as a child (newindianexpress.com)
- Since 2018, Khelo India has involved over 63,000 athletes and created more than 1,000 training centres (newindianexpress.com)
- The Target Olympic Podium Scheme has supported 233 athletes, including 52 para‑athletes (newindianexpress.com)
- Modi encouraged Valarivan after the Tokyo Olympics despite a disappointing performance (newindianexpress.com)
Sources
- [1] newindianexpress.com — originally reported as “Not a change, paradigmatic shift: A sportsperson’s prime minister”
