Patiala, February 6: International experts and academics participating in the two-day international conference titled “Grassroots to Greatness: Talent Identification and Athlete Development” at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) emphasized the need for India to develop quality coaches to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of placing the country among the top five sports nations by 2047.
Speaking about this initiative, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, stated, “We take pride in hosting the second international conference on ‘Grassroots to Greatness – Talent Identification and Athlete Development’ as we continue our commitment to sports excellence. India’s aim is to become a global sports power. Initiatives like Khelo India are paving new paths for young athletes. Our focus is on grassroots development, sports infrastructure, and leveraging technology for athlete success. This conference brings together global experts to share best practices in talent identification, LTAD (Long-Term Athlete Development), and the integration of sports science.”
NSNIS in Patiala is the premier national institution for sports training and sports science education under the Sports Authority of India (SAI). The conference attracted over 600 aspiring coaches, renowned athletes, sports scientists, administrators, educators, and students, along with more than 30 distinguished national and international experts, making it one of the largest platforms for knowledge sharing in sports development in the country.
Hari Ranjan Rao (IAS), Secretary (Sports) of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) and Director General of SAI, inaugurated the conference. Rao mentioned that the sports ministry is tirelessly working to create a robust sports ecosystem.
Professor Nenad Trunic, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Management at Singidunum University, Serbia, expressed his gratitude for being invited to this prestigious conference. He said, “It is an honor to be part of this event in Patiala. This is a great opportunity for all of us to share information, exchange ideas and suggestions, not just with future coaches, but also with students and athletes entering the coaching field. It allows us to address the challenges faced by Indian coaches.”
Richard Lee Brooks shared with SAI Media, “I generally coached national teams, but sometimes I had to coach youth teams as well. We didn’t have teams that you would call youth or grassroots teams, so we started working from almost the beginning. We taught coaches how to coach and then included children in the teams. Indian basketball is progressing, but there is still a long way to go. Therefore, training our coaches is crucial. That’s why international conferences like this are so important, as they provide insights that were previously unknown.”
Established on May 7, 1961, the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports is Asia’s largest sports institute, spanning 268 acres. Since its inception, the institute has produced 17 Padma Shri, 12 Dronacharya, 17 Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, and 175 Arjuna award winners.
Martin Toms remarked to SAI Media, “Patiala has been my second home for the past 15 years, and I am delighted to see the developments here. Conferences like ‘Grassroots to Greatness’ are truly important. To support any Indian athlete’s journey at any level, we need to understand what goes into preparing those champions. The best part is that we are meeting trainees here who will become the next generation of coaches and help identify talented athletes.”
Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Government’s Special Chief Secretary Sarvjeet Singh (IAS) highlighted the significance of such conferences, stating, “These events are crucial as they help our coaches gain valuable knowledge about international best practices. The Punjab government’s sports budget, which was previously between ₹250-300 crores, has now tripled to approximately ₹1000 crores.”
He further added that they are equipping around 3,000 existing sports fields at the village panchayat level with proper grass, irrigation systems, toilets, and changing rooms. The number of coaches has also increased sevenfold from 350 to nearly 2,300, and excellent coaches are receiving immediate government jobs. This reflects the seriousness of the state government regarding sports development.