Bhaichung Bhutia and Neeraj Chopra Amplify The Mission to Make India a Champion Nation Through Sports-Driven Education

Creating a nation of sports champions requires a fundamental shift in how India balances education and athletics. Former Indian football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia and Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra have called for a more sports-integrated education system to nurture talent and elevate India’s global athletic standing.

Speaking at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, Bhutia emphasised the urgent need for collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. “Every child is trained to become a doctor or an engineer, but we need a more sports-friendly curriculum. Only then will India produce world champions,” Bhutia said. He suggested making sports a major subject in schools to build an ecosystem that values athletic achievement alongside academics.

Echoing similar sentiments, Neeraj Chopra highlighted the success of student-athletes in the United States, where schools and universities play a critical role in producing Olympic-level athletes. “If schools and universities in India adopt a similar approach, we will see a big rise in sports,” Chopra told Lallantop. He stressed that with proper management, balancing sports and education is achievable, citing American athletes as examples.

Both athletes pointed to the need for systemic changes in policy and mindset. Bhutia called for sports and education ministries to collaborate closely, while Chopra advocated for schools and universities to integrate competitive sports programs.

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The calls from Bhutia and Chopra align with India’s growing focus on youth development under initiatives like the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue. For India to become a sporting powerhouse, the nation must prioritise infrastructure, policy reforms, and a cultural shift that places equal importance on athletic and academic excellence.