HYDERABAD: India’s performance at the Rio Olympics was evidently lustreless, having returned with only two medals — a bronze each in badminton and wrestling. The dismal results have prompted the sports ministry to launch a Sports Talent Hunt Portal. “We will soon launch a portal for talents across the country,” said Sports Minister Vijay Goel, while paying a visit to one of the talent hotbeds of the country — Gopichand Badminton Academy.
Speaking to Express, the minister shared the story of how he got the idea of launching a portal. “A man once approached me saying his son was not getting entry into the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, even though he was a really good shot-putter, throwing a distance of more than 14 metres. He said he needed membership to enter the stadium. Then I thought there must be so many parents and kids facing the same situation, and then this idea came to my mind,” Goel noted. When asked about the format of the talent hunt, he said, “Players will be able to upload videos of themselves showcasing their talent, and then they will be called for tests at different SAI centres in India.”
He added that the Paralympics athletes will also be in contention for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award from next year.
Gopichand reiterated what he said soon after the Olympics. “The PM’s tweets during the Olympics really encouraged us to do well, and support has been unprecedented,” opined the 2016 Dronacharya awardee. vishal@newindianexpress.com