Arundhati Chaudhary, the 2026 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, on Thursday, 27 August attended the Khelo India Dialogue at Punjabi University, Patiala — a virtual address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi — and said the PM's consistent support for athletes, regardless of results, was the event's defining message for the country's youth.

Chaudhary on Modi's Support for Athletes

Speaking after the virtual briefing, Chaudhary said Modi's engagement with athletes went beyond ceremonial acknowledgment. 'Through this event, the youth would have got a glimpse that PM Modi always stands with the youth, whether they win or lose. Whenever we return from a competition, the PM interacts with us. He discusses our wins and losses. If we lose, he motivates us not to bog down and keep working hard,' she said.

Her remarks came as students and sports aspirants from Punjabi University gathered to participate in the event, with several sharing how the dialogue influenced their own relationship with sport.

Students Respond to the Dialogue

B.Tech student Anshul Auluwalia said the Khelo India Dialogue gave him insight into evolving sports infrastructure and the government's sports policy direction. NSS volunteer and university student Khushdeep Kaur said hearing athletes speak candidly about injuries, setbacks, and perseverance was deeply motivating. Another B.Tech student, Gauri, said she had stepped away from sport but felt compelled to return after participating in the Khelo India programme, adding that students should pursue athletics alongside academics.

Modi's Call to Broaden Olympic Participation

At the heart of the Prime Minister's address was a pointed challenge: India must compete in Olympic disciplines where it currently has little or no presence, as part of a long-term roadmap for the 2036 Olympics. Modi drew a direct link between limited participation and the country's overall medal tally.

'This time, from the Red Fort, I drew the country's attention to a major challenge in sports. This challenge is related to the Olympics. The bitter truth is that India's teams don't participate in half of the sports that are a part of the Olympics,' he said.

Modi cited historical data to underline the gap: 'In the 2012 Olympics, India participated in only 13 sports. In more than 20 sports, India did not participate.' He argued that absent participation means India forfeits a significant share of the total medal pool before competition even begins.

Surfing, Sports Climbing and Geography as Opportunity

The Prime Minister specifically named surfing and sports climbing as disciplines where India's diverse geography could give it a natural advantage. 'There are so many sports whose names people in the country have probably heard of. Other countries win medals in those sports. And we do not participate in those sports. We have to acquire the skills in these sports to increase the medal tally in these sports as well,' he said.

Talent Hunt Targeting Children Aged 5 to 15

To address the participation gap at its root, Modi outlined a nationwide talent identification drive targeting children between the ages of 5 and 15. The initiative is intended to spot potential early and channel young athletes into disciplines suited to their physical profiles, building a deeper bench for future Olympic cycles. The 2036 Olympics — for which India is reportedly a candidate host — provides a concrete deadline around which these efforts are being framed.