Union Home Minister and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday addressed the Felicitation ceremony of the Indian Police and Fire Brigade contingent, which returned after attending the 21st World Police and Fire Games -2025, was held in Birmingham, Alabama, the United States.
According to an official statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Union Minister expressed happiness over Indian contingency winning 613 medals in the 21st World Police and Fire Games and congratulated the Indian police and fire services team for his outstanding performance and proud of the country. He said that the next World Police and Fire Games will be held in India.
Shah said that our aim should ensure that under the All India Police Sports Control Board, at least one athlete of each police force participates in the next World Police and Fire Games. Our participation should be inclusive. He said that each team should aim to win at least three medals. By set such a target, the record of winning 613 medals will break on its own.
The Union Minister said that today the Indian team was given an incentive amount of Rs 4,38,85,000. He mentioned that earlier, police and fire games were not given much importance in the country. However, in terms of participation, it is the world’s largest sports event after the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
Shah said that around 10,000 athletes participate in these games, and due to the strong performance of the country, it is a matter of great pride for 1.4 billion citizens.
The Union Minister said that athletes of various police forces have done well by participating in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, now our focus should be on the World Police and Fire Games – 2029. In 2029, 2029 World Police and Fire Games to be held in Gujarat, every athlete should proceed to win a medal by focusing on a single goal, such as Arjun.
Shah said that many members of the Indian party won medals in the World Police and Fire Games – 2025, but there were many who could not achieve success. He said that the most important thing for us is to participate in the game; Winning and losing is part of life. It should be our nature to try to win and win, and win should become our habit. With the habit of winning, we always move towards excellent performance.
The Union Home Minister said that the upcoming World Police and Fire Sports will be held in Kevadia in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Gujarat. He hoped that Indian athletes would perform so well in these games that it would be assumed that there is a lot of potential for sports in India. He mentioned that the Modi government is trying to host the Olympic, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in India to become part of the nature of the people.
The Union Minister said that India is going to bid for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games, has already submitted a bid for the Commonwealth Games, and has again presented a bid for hosting the Asian Games. The purpose of hosting these incidents in India is to make the game a natural part of the life of the people of the country and various sections like police and fire brigade. He said that sports should be an integral part of life.
He said that a child who does not play is discouraged by defeat, and a child who does not resolve to win after losing, never develops the habit of winning. There is only one place to learn – ground, playground – and it is on the playground that the habit of accepting defeat and passion to win. He said that gradually, this attitude should be developed among our youth.
Amit Shah urged the All India Police Sports Control Board to provide world class coaches to the Indian police teams and give special training to the medical teams of forces for the treatment of sports related injuries. He said that both these works should be done in a planned manner and assured that full support would be provided by the Sports Ministry.
Union Minister Amit Shah urged the directors of all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFS) to create an environment where every police personnel and officers develop a sportsmanship. He said that police officers should start their morning with a parade with their subordinates and spend their evening in playing the game with them. This will help relieve stress related to work and improve performance.
Shah said that sports teach us to think broadly. All central and state police forces should cultivate this habit from top to bottom. He said that the government is taking steps to promote sports within security forces by relaxing the service rules and adopting recruitment processes accordingly.
Union Minister Shah said that last year the Ministry of Home Affairs took several initiatives, including changes in recruitment rules for talent identification, formation of 25 outdoor sports teams in each force and forming a joint team of CAPFS. He said that the proposed National Sports Bill includes provision to recognize police forces at the state level, making each police force capable of participating in national sports events as a single unit.
The Union Home Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the sports budget has increased five times in the last 10 years, which reflects the government’s commitment to the game. A large number of new sports infrastructure have been developed. Under the Tops (Target Olympic Podium Scheme), about 3,000 athletes are being supported with a monthly stipend of Rs 50,000 for the preparation of 2036 Olympic Games. Fit India Movement has also positively affected the athlete selection process, resulting in a three -fold increase in the number of medals won in the Olympics, Paralympics and Asian Games.
Shah hoped that India would be in the top five of the medal in the 2036 Olympics. He said that the Modi government is playing in every village, and children are being selected and trained scientifically in every game. He said that a very positive environment for sports is now developing in the country.
Several dignitaries including the Director of the Intelligence Bureau and Special Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Internal Security) were present on the occasion. (AI)
