Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 05 September 2024
Nicobar District, India’s southernmost region, witnessed the launch of Project KIRTI, a flagship sports talent identification initiative by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, on the eve of National Sports Day. Despite the district’s relatively low population density, the project has generated significant enthusiasm among the local population, particularly the youth.
More than 700 children, aged between 10 and 18, participated in the talent identification event, showcasing the community’s strong interest in sports. Notably, 500 registrations were recorded from the remote islands of Campbell Bay, Katchal, and Kamorta, demonstrating the widespread appeal of the initiative across the Nicobar archipelago.
Speaking about the potential impact of Project KIRTI, District Education Officer H. Nathaniel expressed optimism about the future of local athletes. “With the grassroots-level talent identification approach of Project KIRTI, many talented sportspersons from these islands will have the opportunity to represent India at the Olympics,” he stated.
Project KIRTI aims to discover and nurture young sporting talents across the country. The initiative in Nicobar marks a crucial step in extending national programs to every corner of India, including its remote island territories.