VARANASI, Jan. 5 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India's progress is not limited to the economic front, but is also reflected in the confidence seen on the sports field. The government has significantly increased the sports budget, and today India's sports model has become 'athlete-centric', with the focus on talent identification, scientific training, nutrition and transparent selection, ensuring that the interests of players are prioritised at every level, he added. Modi was addressing a gathering via video conferencing after inaugurating the 72nd Senior National Volleyball Championship in Varanasi. He said there was a time when both government and society were indifferent towards sports, which created uncertainty among players about their future, and very few youth adopted sports as a career. In the past decade, there has been a change in the mindset of both the government and the society towards sports. "Today the nation is riding on the Reform Express, with every sector and every development destination connected to it, and sports being one of them," he asserted. India's performance across various sports has consistently improved since 2014, he said and expressed pride in seeing Gen-Z athletes hoist the tricolour on the field. He also said there are many parallels between India's development story and the game of volleyball. "Volleyball teaches us that no victory is ever achieved alone and our success depends on our coordination, our trust, and the readiness of our team." He added that everyone has their own role, their own responsibility and we succeed only when each person fulfills their responsibility with seriousness. "Our nation too is progressing in the very same way." As the Member of Parliament from Varanasi, he expressed happiness in welcoming and congratulating all the players participating in the National Volleyball Championship. With infrastructure development, Kashi is emerging as a destination to host such a big sports event, he added. He said the players have reached this national tournament after immense hard work, and their efforts will be tested on the grounds of Varanasi in the coming days. He noted that teams from 28 states have gathered for the event, presenting a beautiful picture of "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat." Referring to a local saying "Je Banaras ke jaanna chahat hau, uka Banaras aawe ka pari (the one who wants to know Banaras, he will have to visit Banaras)," Modi said that the players have now arrived in Varanasi and will also come to know the city. He described Varanasi as a city of sports lovers, where wrestling, wrestling arenas, boxing, boat races, and kabaddi are very popular. Varanasi has produced many national-level players, and institutions like Banaras Hindu University, UP College, and Kashi Vidyapeeth have seen their players excel at state and national levels, he added. For thousands of years, Varanasi has welcomed all those who come here in the pursuit of knowledge and art, Modi said. He expressed confidence that during the National Volleyball Championship, the enthusiasm of Varanasi will remain high, the players will find spectators to cheer them on and they will also experience the rich tradition of hospitality that Varanasi embodies. "Volleyball is not an ordinary sport, as it is a game of balance and cooperation, this sport reflects the power of resolution since the ball has to be lifted in every condition," he said. He further said volleyball connects players with team spirit, with every player guided by the mantra, 'Team First'. The prime minister stated that similarly, the nation is progressing from cleanliness to digital payments, from "Ek Ped Maa ke Naam" to the campaign for a developed India, with every citizen, every section, and every province working with a collective consciousness and the spirit of India First. He highlighted that the government has undertaken major reforms in the sports sector, including the National Sports Governance Act and the Khelo Bharat Policy 2025, which will provide opportunities to the right talent and increase transparency in sports organizations. These provisions will allow the youth to advance simultaneously in both sports and education. Noting that initiatives like TOPs are transforming the sports ecosystem in India, with efforts focused on building strong infrastructure, funding mechanisms, and providing young athletes with global exposure, Modi pointed out that in the past decade, India has hosted more than 20 major international events across several cities, including the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, Hockey World Cup, and major chess tournaments. "The 2030 Commonwealth Games will be held in India, and the country is making strong efforts to host the 2036 Olympics, with the aim of giving more and more players greater opportunities to compete," he remarked. At the school level too, efforts are being made to expose young athletes to Olympic sports, Modi said, adding that through the Khelo India campaign, hundreds of youth have had the chance to advance to the national level. Modi said that only a few days ago, the Sansad Khel Mahotsav concluded, where nearly one crore (10 million) youth showcased their talent and around three lakh (300,000) youth from Varanasi demonstrated their strength and skills on the field. He expressed happiness that Varanasi is preparing itself for major events, emphasising that securing a place on the country's sporting map through the National Volleyball Championship is highly significant for the city. He recalled that prior to this championship, Varanasi has hosted several important events that provided opportunities for local people and boosted the local economy, including G-20 meetings, cultural festivals like Kashi Tamil Sangamam and Kashi Telugu Sangamam, the Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan, and Varanasi's designation as the cultural capital of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The prime minister noted that Varanasi experiences pleasant cold weather at this time, accompanied by delicious seasonal foods, and suggested enjoying malaiyyo (A winter dessert from Varanasi, made from milk froth and flavoured with saffron, cardamom, and pistachios0. "Taste it," Modi urged and added that take with you the experience of visiting Baba Vishwanath, boating in the Ganga, and soaking in the city's heritage. Concluding his remarks, he encouraged the players to perform well in the tournament, expressing hope that every spike, block, and point from the soil of Varanasi will elevate India's sporting aspirations. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath and other dignitaries were present at the event. The tournament, scheduled from January 4 to 11, will see participation from over 1,000 players across 58 teams representing states and institutions nationwide....