We will not let anything lacking in promoting sports; 172 children are being trained in 10 Olympic sports at Delhi Sports School, said Delhi’s CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal during the inauguration of the air-conditioned indoor swimming pool at Delhi Sports School located in Civil Lines on Wednesday. Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal emphasized that the athletes have the trust of the nation and urged them to work day and night to fulfil the country’s dream. The CM further said that the purpose of establishing Delhi Sports University is to bring maximum medals in the Olympics.
All modern facilities will be provided free of cost to the athletes training here. During his visit, CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal inspected the available facilities and mentioned that the upcoming 80-acre Sports University in Mundka will offer training to 2500 students across 20 Olympic sports. On this occasion, Sports Minister Atishi, Vice Chancellor of Delhi Sports University Karnam Malleswari, and other dignitaries were present.
During this, CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal stated, “Today, I saw Delhi Sports School, and it was an eye-opener. I want to congratulate all those people who have been involved in the development of this facility. For a few years, we pondered over the idea of Delhi Sports University. We thought that our country has 140 crore people, and when it comes to the Olympics or International Sports events, we come at the lowest in the table in terms of medals won. We long for even a single medal, and countries like China, and the USA take all the medals. What are we really lacking? In a country of 140 crore individuals, we don’t have any dearth of talent. We have immense talent in our country. I have seen children showing their talent on the traffic light many times. At that time, tears came to my eyes that the bodies of children performing at the traffic light are very flexible, and talent is not dependent on poverty or money. Talent can be possessed by both rich and poor people.”
“There is also a lot of talent hidden in the children of our villages, but so far, no one has supported that talent. If that talent is supported, we can defeat any country in the world in competition. We have established a sports university with the aim of bringing more and more medals to the Olympics. All the athletes training at Delhi Sports School are being prepared to bring more and more medals to the Olympics. This is our goal. Behind the establishment of Delhi Sports University, we have a very big vision. This university is being built in Mundka on about 80 acres of land, where 2500 students will be enrolled. It may take about 3 years for the university to be established. For now, Delhi Sports School has been established, and training in 10 Olympic sports is being provided here,” the Chief Minister said.
CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal further added that during the visit to the school, he also talked to the coach and found a lot of self-confidence in them. Some coaches said that they would win medals in 2028, while some said that they would bring medals in 2032. This means that like Arjuna, everyone’s goal is very clear in their minds that we have to win medals in the Olympics and are working with the same belief.
The Delhi CM expressed that during the visit to the weightlifting section, the University’s Vice Chairperson Karnam Malleshwari said that when she was training in her time, she did not have such facilities. The best facilities are available in our sports schools, good coaches, and nutritious food are available. The entire country is investing their money in you. All the facilities available here are free. The country has trusted you, and you all have to prove it by working day and night to fulfil the dream of the country.
“Currently, training is being given in 10 Olympic sports at Delhi Sports School, but when the Sports University is ready, training in 20 Olympic sports will be provided there. It is the desire of this country that all the medals in these 20 Olympic sports should come to India. All the children have passed through very difficult tests to reach here. Tests were conducted at several levels, and then there was competition. For this, more than 10,000 applications were received, out of which only 170 children have been selected. This means that all the children training here are very talented. We have selected them in the 6th and 7th grades, and we will support them until they play at the international level,” CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal shared.
“So now you have to work hard. It is now up to all of you to fulfil the trust that the country has shown. We are not experts in sports. So whatever requirements are there, you tell us, we will provide those facilities. We promise that we will not let anything be lacking, but you will have to inform us. We are confident that you all will illuminate India’s name in the Olympics one day. I am happy that within just 4-6 months, you have won many medals at the state and national levels, which gives us all confidence that we will do very well in the future,” the Chief Minister concluded.
Players asked questions, CM Kejriwal answered
During the inauguration of the AC-swimming pool, athletes training at Delhi Sports School shared their experiences of their sports journey and the journey so far with CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal. Along with this, they also asked several questions to the CM, to which he responded candidly. One student asked about the idea of a sports school. In response, the CM said, “If children want to play, then they are considered bad. Parents think that if their child plays, they will not get a degree and then they will not get a job. That’s why we decided that if a child is first-class in sports, then they should get a Bachelor’s degree in sports. The degree obtained from here will be no less than the degree of BA, BSc, or BCom. That’s why we wanted to bring sports at par with education so that children who want to play, play, and those who want to study science-commerce, study science-commerce.”
While addressing the students at Delhi Sports School, Education Minister Atishi said, “Yesterday, when we went for the inauguration of a school in Paschim Vihar, the CM expressed his excitement with the word ‘wow.’ Today as well, our hearts are full of such excitement and feeling. I congratulate all the teams who have worked hard along with CM Arvind Kejriwal for having conceptualized such a unique school and university.”
She added, “I am confident that when the Indian contingent leaves for the Olympics in 2032, many Delhi Sports School and University students will be part of that contingent and represent India.”
The Education Minister further stated that the Kejriwal Government is diligently working to provide all facilities related to sports that various children have opted for in the University. One reason the government earmarked 10 sports is to introduce those in which it can provide the best facilities to students. Whether it’s expert training or nutritional support, the government is striving to offer the best to its students in sports schools and the University. “I am confident that in the future, the students of this university will make it big in international games like the Olympics and bring laurels for the country,” she said.
Children thanked CM for providing excellent training facilities
During this, student Jeevan Jyoti said that she is from a small village in Churu, Rajasthan. Her teacher encouraged her to play, and she won two medals at the state level. The student said that her teacher told her that CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal has opened a sports school in Delhi. She said that she filled out the form and got selected. Jeevan Jyoti said that there are excellent facilities available in the sports school. For this, I want to thank CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal for opening this school and giving us the opportunity to train here.
Similarly, boxing student Tikam Singh from Jaipur, Rajasthan, said that he studies in the 9th grade. He used to train at a boxing academy near his home, but there were no good facilities there. When he came to know about Delhi Sports School, he applied here and got selected. International-level training is being provided here. Attention is also paid to the diet here. Education and sports are going hand in hand. This is not causing any harm to studies either.
The goal of the Sports University is to prepare athletes for the Olympics
The Delhi Sports University was established in 2020. Delhi Sports University is a recognised State University, established through an Act of the Delhi Legislative Assembly in 2020. The primary focus of this university is on achieving sports excellence and fostering the careers of children & youth having special talent in Olympic sports. Smt. Karnam Malleswari is the first Vice Chancellor of the University. She is the first woman Olympic medallist of India. The main campus is allotted at Ghevra More Mundka, spanning approximately 80 acres. The construction activities are likely to commence in the next financial year and likely to be completed in three years. It will have a residential capacity of around 2500 students, facilities and other staff.
About Delhi School Sports:
a). Fully residential Delhi Sports School at Sham Nath Marg is set up as an incubator for identifying and nurturing talent from an early age and carrying them through to higher education.
b). This school is designated as one of the Schools of Specialized Excellence, having classes from VI to XII. It is affiliated with the Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE), offering a specialized sports-centric curriculum to enhance the overall educational experience.
c). To ensure the holistic development of its students, all essential facilities- accommodation, nutrition, sports training, and academics are provided to the selected students, completely free of cost.
d). There are two professional agencies as knowledge partners to support sports training through expert sportspersons & trainers and scholastic components.
These academies are providing training to athletes
Athletes being prepared for the Olympic Games are being trained in various academies in Delhi. This includes 19 students training in archery at the S.K.V. Playground/Delhi Sports School in Ashok Vihar Block 2. Similarly, in Thyagraj Stadium, INA, 26 are training in athletics, 19 in boxing at IGI Stadium, ITO, 19 in badminton at Ludlow Castle Sports Complex, 19 in lawn tennis at Thyagraj Stadium, INA, and 16 will undergo swimming training at the new AC-Swimming pool complex after its inauguration at the SPM Indoor Swimming Pool Complex. In addition, 18 are training in shooting at the Sol and Shot Shooting Club, Punjabi Bagh, 18 in table tennis at Delhi Sports School, 19 in weightlifting at Delhi Sports School, and 17 students are being trained in wrestling at the Chattarsal Stadium, Chandgi Ram Akhada.
Initial success:
In the first year itself, 70 students participated in National Level Tournaments, securing 19 medals. At the State Level Championships, our trainee students have won more than 88 medals.
