School Games Federation of India (SGFI) chief Deepak Kumar on Thursday (July 31, 2026) said the emphasis is on formulating a strategy to ensure Uttar Pradesh ranks among the country’s top three States in sports by 2036 and to secure the inclusion of traditional sports (such as Kabaddi and Yoga) in the Olympics.

“After I assumed the presidency of SGFI in January 2023, transformative reforms have been implemented within the federation. School athlete registration, competition management, and results have been fully digitised. Modern systems are being used to eliminate fraud and ensure transparency,” Mr Kumar said in Lucknow.

More than 5 lakh digital sports certificates have been made available through DigiLocker, helping young athletes access jobs and scholarships, he said.

The SGFI reaches out to more than 2.62 lakh schools and over 4.14 crore students annually, the federation chief said, adding that, during the 2025–26 academic session, over 250 national sports championships across 44 disciplines were successfully organised through 45 affiliated bodies, with over 61,000 student-athletes participating.

The country has recorded strong participation in international competitions, with the Indian boys’ team winning a bronze medal for the first time at the International School Sports Federation U15 World School Volleyball Championship 2025.

“Over 120 physical education teachers and coaches were certified under the International Capacity Building Programme. I recently met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Ji. The emphasis is on formulating a strategy to ensure Uttar Pradesh ranks among the country’s top three States in sports by 2036 and to secure the inclusion of traditional sports (such as Kabaddi and Yoga) in the Olympics. We will devise a strategy for this,” said Mr. Kumar.

A 1990-batch IAS officer working as Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Kumar also holds concurrent responsibilities spanning infrastructure & industrial development, agricultural production, civil aviation, coordination, and institutional finance.

Mr. Kumar, who has been elected to the post of an ‘assessor’ in an election of the top executive body of the International School Sports Federation, held in Belgrade, Serbia, said India’s efforts at the international level have resulted in the country securing the hosting rights for two major global competitions in 2027—the ISF World School Wrestling Championship and the ISF World School Badminton Championship. Both events will be held in Delhi.

“The SGFI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Delhi government and the Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Welfare for these events, which will see participation of over 1,100 athletes and officials from over 35 countries. Our aim is not just to organise competitions but also to discover the hidden sporting talent in every corner of India and promote them from school to the international stage. India’s representation in the International School Sports Federation will open doors to global opportunities for the country’s youth. We are committed to developing Olympic-ready athletes and fulfilling India’s dream of participating in the 2036 Olympics,” Mr. Kumar said.

After returning to India following his election, Mr. Kumar and Bhagwati Singh, a member of the federation’s executive committee and Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Council, paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Published - July 31, 2026 05:06 pm IST