New Delhi: The newly-appointed sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said ‘best of the opportunities’ will be provided to all sportspersons in their endeavour to make India a strong sporting nation. Incidentally, Rathore who won the first individual silver for India at Athens in 2004, is the first Indian Olympian to be appointed as the sports minister. He replaces Vijay Goel, who did not have a background in sports.
Rathore said the focus will be on winning medals at all levels. “Win medals at all levels – village or at the Olympic level – that is the motto. Sports is a state subject so we will work together with the state departments to provide, like I said, best of the opportunities for the sportspersons,” Rathore told reporters here Sunday.
The former World Championship (2003) silver medallist added, “The most important thing is that the sportsman only has one challenge and that is to overcome adversaries, and enhance the level of their sports.”
When asked about the new education policy, Rathore said, “The point is that education just doesn’t happen in schools and colleges. The education for life happens on sports grounds and that’s where we come in.
“The sports ministry and the states will provide the right opportunities for our youth, the future of this country, to make themselves physically and mentally more stronger,” said Rathore.
press trust of india
