Minister of State (I/C) for youth affairs and sports Shri Vijay Goel said that promotion and development of sports disciplines, including wrestling, is the responsibility of the concerned National Sports Federations (NSF). Central Government supplements the efforts of the NSFs by providing financial assistance under the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs for various activities such as holding coaching camps for national level sportspersons, holding of national championships and international tournaments in India, training and participation of sportspersons/teams in international tournaments abroad, procurement of sports and sports science equipment, etc.
In a written in the Lok sabha today, he said, government has recognized Wrestling Federation of India as the NSF responsible for promotion of wrestling sport in the country. Government has also placed wrestling sport in the high priority category so that it gets maximum financial assistance under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations. Government is also implementing a National Programme for Development of Sports called Khelo India" with the objective of mass participation of the young population in sports through annual sports competitions, identification of sporting talent, nurturing of sporting talent through sports academies. Wrestling is included in this Programme. Wrestling is also included in the various Sports Promotion Schemes of the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
Creation of sports infrastructure at Block, District and State/UT levels is envisaged under the Khelo India Scheme covering 21 sports disciplines including Wrestling. The Khelo India Scheme, inter-alia, provides for creation of sports infrastructure including Synthetic Athletic Track, Synthetic Hockey Field, Synthetic Turf Football Ground, Multipurpose hall, Swimming pool etc. The Multipurpose Halls and sports complexes can include facilities for wrestling. The scheme is demand-driven. Proposals, complete in all respects, received from States/UTs, are considered subject to feasibility and viability of the proposals and availability of funds. It is for the State / UT Government, including that of Bihar, to identify the location of the sports complexes.
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