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In a grand ceremony on Tuesday, the official attire for the Indian athletes heading to the forthcoming Asian Games was unveiled, highlighting the theme of sustainability and efficient use of resources. The ceremony was presided over by Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, along with Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha. Notably, Indian hockey stars Savita Punia and PR Sreejesh showcased the khaki ceremonial kits, while shooter Manu Bhaker and shotputter Tajinderpal Singh Toor exhibited the competition and training wear.
The attire, conceptualised and designed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology, brilliantly incorporates elements of India's rich cultural heritage. For women, the ensemble includes a textured khaki saree, and for men, a khaki kurta. The male athletes' bandhgala jackets and the high-neck blouses for women are tastefully adorned with Indian motifs and prints. Even more impressive, the fabrics used are recycled, underscoring the commitment to sustainability.
“It is good to talk about 100 medals or more, but every athlete is selected on merit. And the Prime Minister has said that when you represent 140 cr people of the country, you have to give your best at all times and medals and success will come by itself,” said Anurag Singh Thakur, echoing the official slogan 'Abki baar 100 paar.'
Thakur also took the opportunity to enumerate India’s recent athletic accomplishments. “India has achieved a lot in the last six months in sports and all of it has made every Indian proud -- whether Antim Panghal’s back-to-back gold at the Under-20 World Championships in wrestling or four gold medals in women’s boxing World Championships or Saff title in football or the Junior Asia Cup titles for both men and women in hockey or the men’s hockey Asian Champions Trophy or Aditi Swami’s archery title or the most recent World Cup final by R. Praggnanandha -- all of it has been heartening. But this is just the beginning,” he emphasized.
The minister also disclosed significant developments in sports infrastructure and funding. The budget for Khelo India has been upped by 675 crores for the next three years, and the approval for 250 additional Khelo India centres has been secured, exceeding the 1000 initially planned for this year.
This milestone unveiling event thus not only celebrated India's aesthetic contributions to sports fashion but also offered an insight into the nation's athletic ambitions and commitments for the upcoming Asian Games.
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