Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s virtual address at the inauguration of the 72nd National Volleyball Championship in Varanasi transformed a sporting occasion into a national parable. Addressing players from 28 states gathered at Sigra Stadium, he celebrated Kashi not just as a spiritual capital but as a sporting crucible where athletic endeavour meets cultural hospitality.
Varanasi’s sporting lineage from wrestling akhadas and kabaddi grounds to national champions nurtured by BHU, UP College, and Kashi Vidyapeeth sets the stage for this championship. The Prime Minister invoked the local saying that those who visit Banaras fall in love with it, assuring players of enthusiastic crowds and the city’s legendary warmth during the event.
Volleyball, in his framing, mirrors India’s development journey: a game of balance across the net, demanding coordination, trust, and resolve to keep the ball aloft. Team First is its mantra, where individual skills serve collective victory, a potent metaphor for national progress. From Swachh Bharat to digital payments, One Tree Planted in Mother’s Name to Viksit Bharat@2047, success stems from every citizen, class, and region embracing India First with shared consciousness.
The past decade marks a sporting renaissance. Post 2014, medals across disciplines have multiplied, with Gen Z routinely raising the tricolour. Government apathy has yielded to athlete centric policies: increased budgets, scientific training, nutrition focus, transparent selection, and the National Sports Governance Act alongside Khelo India 2025 policy. Initiatives like TOPS, hosting over 20 major international events from FIFA U17 to Hockey World Cup, and preparations for 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics signal global ambition.
Khelo India has propelled hundreds to national prominence, while the recent MP Sports Festival engaged nearly a crore youth, including 3 lakh from the Prime Minister’s own Kashi constituency. Infrastructure upgrades at Sigra Stadium and emerging sports complexes now serve regional talent, positioning Varanasi as a hub for big ticket events alongside G20 meetings, Kashi Tamil Sangamam, and its role as SCO’s cultural capital.
This championship adds another jewel, boosting local economy and visibility. As players enjoy Banarasi winter delights like malaiyo, Ganga boat rides, and darshan at Baba Vishwanath, the Prime Minister urged them to channel Kashi’s energy into spikes, blocks, and points that elevate India’s sporting aspirations.
In an era of Reform Express across sectors, sports emerges as development’s vibrant frontcourt fostering discipline, unity, and global pride. From school courts to Olympic podiums, the message resonates: play as one, rise as one.
