Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today felicitated the Indian Police and Fire Services contingent that secured an impressive 613 medals at the 21st World Police and Fire Games held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. The event, held in New Delhi, celebrated the team’s outstanding performance on the global stage.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shah highlighted the growing stature of India in international sports and announced that India will host the 2029 edition of the Games in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Kevadia, Gujarat. He urged athletes to aim for medals in 2029 with the focused determination of Arjun from the Mahabharata.
Our goal is to see at least one athlete from every police force under the All India Police Sports Control Board compete in the 2029 Games. Let each team aim to win at least three medals,” Shah said.
Shah emphasized the five-fold increase in India’s sports budget over the last decade under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership. He cited the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which now supports 3,000 athletes with ₹50,000 monthly stipends, as a key initiative preparing India for the 2036 Olympics, for which India is bidding to host.
The Minister expressed confidence that India will rank in the top five on the medal tally in 2036, citing the impact of programs like the Fit India Movement, enhanced infrastructure, and scientifically guided training from grassroots levels.
Shah called for integrating sports into daily routines across police forces to promote physical fitness, mental well-being, and performance excellence.
“Morning parades and evening sports sessions with subordinates should be the norm for officers. Sports not only reduce stress but also foster leadership and resilience,” he said.
He also announced continued reforms in service rules to encourage participation in sports, including:
- Formation of 25 outdoor sports teams in every Central Armed Police Force (CAPF)
- Joint CAPF teams for national competitions
- A proposed National Sports Bill to enable state police forces to participate in National Games as independent units.
To honor their achievements, the Indian contingent was awarded an incentive of ₹4.39 crore. Shah noted that with 10,000 global athletes participating, the World Police and Fire Games is the third-largest multi-sport event after the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.
He concluded by stating that success on the sports field builds resilience and a winning mindset, both critical traits for youth and security personnel alike.
“Winning and losing are part of life, but the habit of striving to win must become second nature. That habit is built on the ground, on the field.”
