The two sessions deliberated on aligning national sports policies, institutional frameworks and technological innovation to achieve sustained Olympic success.
Photo: SNS
Army Sports Conclave 2025 with two central themes, ‘Institutional Synergy’ and ‘Athlete 360’ was organised by the Indian Army at the Manekshaw Centre, here on Tuesday. The conclave emphasised coordinated collaboration across stakeholders and holistic athlete development.
The two sessions deliberated on aligning national sports policies, institutional frameworks and technological innovation to achieve sustained Olympic success. The event reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to nurturing champions and contributing to the nation’s vision of Olympic Mission 2036.
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Giving the welcome address, Lt Gen Ajay Ramdev, Director General Integrated Training, highlighted the Conclave as a platform where “purpose meets passion” in advancing India’s sporting ambitions.
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He lauded the Mission Olympic Wing and para-athletes, emphasising the shift towards scientific, data-driven and mentally conditioned training. He urged collective resolve towards India’s Olympic Mission 2036 to elevate the nation’s global sporting stature.
In his address, Lt Gen Rakesh Kapoor, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Information Systems & Training), spoke about the enduring bond between the Indian Army and sports, rooted in fitness, discipline and teamwork.
He outlined the Army’s major sporting initiatives and focus on scientific, data-driven training to sustain excellence. Urging synergy among the Army, SAI, private sector and academia, he called for collective resolve towards India’s Olympic Mission 2036.
In the keynote address, Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), lauded the Indian Army’s vital role in nurturing world-class athletes and advancing para and adventure sports that symbolise national pride.
Highlighting government initiatives such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, Khelo India centres and sports science integration, he emphasised synergy among all stakeholders to realise India’s Olympic aspirations for 2036 through long-term planning, inclusion and scientific excellence.
A special ‘Fire Side Chat’ brought together senior officials, accomplished athletes and sports administrators for an interactive dialogue on the roadmap to India’s Olympic goals. The discussions underscored the importance of integrated efforts by the armed forces, civil sports authorities and private sector partners in fostering an ecosystem conducive to high performance.
As part of the Conclave, three distinguished sports persons were honoured with the Army Sports Lifetime Achievement Award by Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, for their outstanding contribution to Indian sports.
The awardees included Colonel Balbir Singh Kullar (Retd), Olympic bronze medallist in hockey (1968), Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medallist (1972), and Honorary Captain Vijay Kumar Sharma, Olympic silver medallist in shooting (2012). The felicitation ceremony, held at South Block, celebrated their enduring legacy of courage, discipline, and excellence, reflecting the Indian Army’s ethos of “Service Before Self.”
The Conclave also marked the Army’s alignment with the recently formulated Army Roadmap 2032, the National Sports Development Bill and Khel Niti 2025. Together, these initiatives set the stage for transformative progress in India’s sporting landscape.
The Army Sports Conclave 2025 concluded with a collective call to action, to forge partnerships, invest in athlete-centric systems and realise India’s aspiration of becoming a global sporting powerhouse by 2036.
ENDS
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