"We have made a 10-year plan in the Ministry of Sports, where we are going to identify talents from rural areas, send them to districts and give them training," he told reporters.
"Those doing well during the training would be sent for 'world class' coaching at Sports Authority of India centres of excellence. We are developing 28 centres of excellence, where world class coaching will be given," he said here.
"We will be strengthening our National Institute of Sports, Patiala, to churn out more coaches. Along with that, we will be taking a lot of foreign coaches over the next few years. And we will be sending our players abroad also," he said.
Observing that sports needed to be connected with livelihood and career progression "which was not seen as of now", he said, "We need to connect sports with various courses, various corporate houses that a good sportsman gets a job also after he performs. So, that is the main thrust in improving sports in the country."
The Centres of Excellence were in process of upgradation, he said. "Over four or five centres have fully been equipped. The facility in Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru stadium is functioning very well. Haryana is coming up. Kolkata SAI centre is also functioning."
Asked if the Ministry was eyeing a particular sport for grooming medal prospects, he said, "We want to concentrate on all sports. But, there are some disciplines where India has done well in the past, those will be given due importance."
