DIBRUGARH: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said India had begun preparing a new generation of athletes with an eye on the 2036 Olympic Games, as he inaugurated the first Samiran Bordoloi Memorial Inter Club Swimming Competition in Dibrugarh, Assam.
The competition was inaugurated at the newly constructed swimming pool stadium in the city.
Speaking to reporters, Sonowal said India’s sporting ecosystem had undergone a major transformation over the past 12 years, which he attributed to the sustained focus on sports under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said strong performances by Indian athletes at international competitions had inspired more young people to take up sports and that efforts were underway to identify and groom talent for the 2036 Olympics.
India’s preparations for major international sporting events will also include the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Following the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Commonwealth Games Federation flag was handed over to Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, representing the host state for the 2030 Games. Sanghavi later presented it to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel during a state Cabinet meeting.
The flag will remain in Gujarat until the 2030 Games and is expected to be used in initiatives promoting the Fit India movement and encouraging young athletes.
