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Abhinav Bindra says medals alone don’t measure sporting progress
Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra has said India's sporting progress should be measured not just by medals but by mass participation. Speaking at the IAMGAME Sports Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, he…
Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra has said India's sporting progress should be measured not just by medals but by mass participation. Speaking at the IAMGAME Sports Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, he called for expanding the base of the sporting pyramid through greater engagement, especially among children.
Bindra stressed the need for more children to play sport, particularly in schools, to create a stronger pipeline for elite athletes. He urged better recognition and investment in physical education teachers, noting that a child's first experience with sport shapes their lifelong relationship with physical activity.
He also credited his parents for creating a safe environment where failure was accepted, saying they loved him for who he was, not just for winning gold. Bindra warned that without a strong foundation of participation, India will struggle to match its sporting aspirations.
Indian Opinion Analysis
India's medal tally at major international events has grown over the past decade, yet the country's per capita spending on grassroots sports infrastructure remains low compared to nations like China or Australia. Under the Khelo India scheme, the government has expanded school-level competitions, but the ratio of trained physical education teachers to students in government schools is still well below the recommended norm. Bindra's call for systemic investment in early sporting experiences echoes the National Education Policy 2020, which mandates sports-integrated learning but has seen uneven implementation across states. The real measure of progress will be how many children stay with sport past age 14, not just how many reach the podium.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
