Tamil Nadu sets up Talent Research Wing, 10 Olympic centres to hunt future champions

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday announced a series of measures aimed at identifying and nurturing young sporting talent across the state, including the establishment of a Talent Research Wing and ten Olympic Centres of Excellence.

Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna said the Talent Research Wing, to be set up under the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) at a cost of ₹5 crore, will identify talented boys and girls in the age group of 8 to 18 and train them to become future Olympic champions.

Making the announcements for the Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, Mr. Arjuna said the state currently runs 44 sports hostels across 27 districts. New sports hostels will be established in all districts, and all existing hostels under SDAT will be modernised with air-conditioning facilities.

To strengthen the pathway to international success, ten Olympic Centres of Excellence will be set up at a cost of ₹15 crore, with the specific aim of winning medals at the Olympics and other international competitions. A Paralympic Centre of Excellence will also be established in Chennai, along with an SDAT 'Olympic House' to coordinate activities related to Olympic and international-level sporting events.

In a move to promote traditional sports, the state will conduct annual Tamil Nadu traditional sports competitions at a cost of ₹42 crore. This initiative covers kabaddi, kho-kho, silambam, and kalaripayattu, with the goal of taking these indigenous games to the global stage.

The minister also announced enhanced cash incentives for medal winners. Sportspersons from Tamil Nadu who win gold at the Olympic or Paralympic Games will now receive ₹5 crore, up from ₹3 crore. Silver medallists will get ₹3 crore instead of ₹2 crore, and bronze medallists will receive ₹2 crore instead of ₹1 crore. Additionally, financial assistance for those who qualify for the Olympics or Paralympics has been increased from ₹7 lakh to ₹15 lakh.

These announcements reflect the state government's broader effort to build a robust sports ecosystem, combining infrastructure development, talent scouting, and financial support to encourage athletes at every stage of their journey.