Sports Can Become Instrument For National Integration: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke about the importance of sports in everyday life and said that it can be a "great means of national integration".

Calling for promotion of sports in the country, Modi said that some people only think of sports as a way to become physically fit and healthy.

However in his view, sports had a much larger role to play in one's life and the larger scheme of things.

"Sports should be an integral part of our everyday life. Some people think that sports is important only for physical well-being, I feel sports is important for overall development of an individual," Modi said at the digital launch of the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports initiative, which claims to be India's largest multi-city school and college sports competition.

"We are a large and diverse nation. Sports can be a great means of national integration," said the Prime Minister.

"From sports, we learn sportsman spirit and that acts as a lubricant in our social life. More than winning, sports helps you learn to deal with defeats. Sports helps you become a fighter," he said.

"Sports teaches you not to lose heart after defeats," he added.

Reliance Foundation Youth Sports initiative is in sync with the Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports' vision of 'Khelo India'.

For the inaugural year, Reliance Foundation Youth Sports will have football competitions in eight cities in four categories -- Junior Boys (Grade 7 - 10); Senior Boys (Grade 11-12); Senior Girls (Grade 11-12) and College Boys (Graduate institutes).

Participating teams across categories will compete in city qualifiers beginning August, followed by City Championships in October/November and finals to be played in January/February 2017.

(With PTI inputs)