Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Paralympic champion Sheetal Devi backs revamped Khelo India Scheme
Sheetal Devi is an archer who won a medal at the Paralympic Games.
She grew up in a small town called Kishtwar.
She says she became a champion because she got good coaching and support.
Many children with disabilities who live in villages never get that chance.
The Indian government is updating the Khelo India Scheme to help more young athletes.
The plan will spend a large amount of money over five years.
It will find talented children early and give them coaches and training places.
It will also build more sports facilities closer to where children live.
She hopes this helps children with disabilities believe they belong in sport.
She says that confidence is where every medal-winning journey begins.
Paralympic archery champion Sheetal Devi says the revamped Khelo India Scheme (KIS) can unearth talent, especially in para sports.
The five-year scheme, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, invests ₹29,054 crore purely on development.
The scheme's nine major components include talent identification, coach and support staff development, and strengthening infrastructure and high-performance training.
New Para Khelo India Athletes and Emerging Khelo India Athletes pools aim to identify promising children much earlier and support them through every stage.
Devi notes the expansion of the Khelo India Para Games and the emphasis on para-sports academies and accredited centres near where children live.
Devi says the scheme's real success will be seen when children with disabilities from every district and village enter sport with confidence.
- Who
- Paralympic champion archer Sheetal Devi, writing in support of a scheme envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- What
- The revamped Khelo India Scheme (KIS), a five-year programme investing ₹29,054 crore in sports development, with a focus on para sports.
- When
- The scheme is described as newly revamped and five years in duration; no specific dates are given.
- Where
- India, particularly villages and small towns across the country.
- Why
- To identify talented children early, especially those with disabilities, and provide coaching, infrastructure and competitive opportunities so they can enter sport with confidence.
- Scheme
- Revamped Khelo India Scheme (KIS)
- Investment
- ₹29,054 crore
- Duration
- Five years
- Envisioned by
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Major components
- Nine, including talent identification, coach and support staff development, and infrastructure strengthening
- New athlete pools
- Para Khelo India Athletes and Emerging Khelo India Athletes
- Events
- Expansion of Khelo India Para Games
- Author
- Sheetal Devi, Paralympic champion in archery, from Kishtwar