Amethi (UP), Oct 13 (PTI) Citing sports and startups, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said talent from the country's small towns is getting a chance to emerge in today's India.

In his video message played out at the closing ceremony of sports event Amethi Sansad Khel Pratiyogita 2023 here, Modi credited this to the government's "transparent" approach.

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The Sansad Khel Pratiyogita is a great medium to discover such talents and hone their skills for the nation, he said.

"In today's changing India talent from the small towns is getting opportunities to openly come forward," he said. "If India has made such a name in startups, the startups from small towns have played a big role." he added.

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He mentioned initiatives like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and Khelo India Games and said hundreds of athletes are being trained and coached in the country and abroad under TOPS and being given assistance worth crores of rupees.

The PM also informed that more than 3,000 players are being given assistance of Rs 50,000 per month under the Khelo India Games which helps them in meeting the needs of training, diet, coaching, kit and other expenses.

Citing the example of Asian Games where most medal-winning athletes came from small towns, the prime minister said this was a result of the government respecting their talent and providing all possible facilities.

The prime minister highlighted the performances of Uttar Pradesh's Annu Rani, Parul Chaudhary and Sudha Singh in the Asian Games.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union minister and Amethi MP Smriti Irani were on the stage during the PM's virtual address.

The prime minister said it is a special feeling to connect with those participating in the Amethi Sansad Khel Pratiyogita 2023.

"It is very important for the development of any society that sports and players get the opportunity to flourish there," the PM said.

Sports help youths attain personality development naturally as they work hard to achieve the goal, learn to try again after losses and move forward in team spirit.

"When players enter the field, they have only one goal - to make themselves and the team victorious," he said.

Modi said players put everything at stake for the country.

"Today, the entire country is thinking like athletes. When athletes play, they prioritize the nation first. At that moment, risking everything, they play for the country. At this time, the country is also moving forward with a big goal. The role of every citizen in every district is crucial to make Bharat developed. For this, every region needs to move forward with one emotion, one goal, and one resolution," he said.

He said more than one lakh players gathering at one place is a big thing in itself and congratulated Irani for making the event such a success.

He said the experience gained from such competitions will come in very handy for the players and they will win medals at national and international events in the coming years.

Adityanath said the sporting prowess India demonstrated in China was a result of PM Modi's encouragement.

"Players from Uttar Pradesh have won 25 per cent of the medals in the Asian Games. The gold medal winning players will be given an honor of Rs three crore each in the ceremony and the post of Deputy SP is waiting for them," he said.

He also announced that MP cultural competition will also be organised on the lines of MP sports competition and guidelines will be issued soon in this regard.

"I promise that there will be no shortage of funds for the development of Amethi. Whatever proposals will be sent from here, action will be taken on them immediately," he said.

Adityanath encouraged the winners of the MP Sports Competition by giving them awards. About 1.11 lakh players took part in this competition and 8,000 winning players were given awards.

The MP Sports Competition was started in Amethi on the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17th September.

Apart from Adityanath and Irani, BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhary and MP Manoj Tiwari were also present.

Adityanath and Irani also attacked the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi.

Those who won elections from here and ran the Central government never thought of development and left people here to fend for themselves, Irani said.

She caused a major upset in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections defeating its MP Rahul Gandhi.

Ridiculing Gandhi for contesting from Kerala's Wayanad, she said he ran away from Amethi and went to south India. "Now, he is not able to muster the courage to say that we will contest elections from Amethi. He cannot muster the courage to come to Amethi and this is the result of the power of people of Amethi."

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)