Former Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur has made a significant statement urging sports federations across India to prioritize developing domestic talent rather than seeking inclusion of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) in national teams.
Government's Stance on National Team Eligibility
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the FIDE World Cup in Arpora, where he performed the ceremonial first move on Tuesday, Thakur emphasized that India's policy since 2008 only permits Indian citizens to represent the country in international events. This position has gained attention recently, particularly in football circles, where there have been growing calls to include PIO and OCI players amid the national team's disappointing performances.
"Rather than importing players from overseas of Indian origin, I think it will be better to train your own players here," Thakur stated firmly. "I think in many sports, with a population of 1.4 billion Indians, we should nurture the talent that is available here and create opportunities for them to excel."
Supporting Domestic Talent Development
The government has consistently maintained that allowing Indian-origin foreign athletes to represent India could potentially hamper the prospects of homegrown sportspersons. Thakur, who previously served as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), highlighted several government initiatives designed to support athletic development.
"We have to provide our talent with enough funding. The government has several schemes like TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme). Federations can start something of its own, do some handholding, send them overseas for training," he explained, outlining the comprehensive approach needed to develop Indian sports talent.
Recent Developments and Policy Changes
Earlier this month, Australian forward Ryan Williams became only the second professional footballer after Arata Izumi in 2012 to surrender his foreign citizenship and obtain an Indian passport, making him eligible for national team selection. This move highlights the ongoing debate about player eligibility in Indian sports.
Thakur, a five-time member of parliament from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, also expressed strong support for the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, which was passed during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. He described this comprehensive legislation as a transformative step for sports governance in the country.
"The new education policy and the sports policy will both help sports in a big way," Thakur noted. "The environment is such that we now not just look at cricket as a sport, but many other disciplines too, where we have international champions, stars who can inspire a lot of youngsters at the grassroots. The sports policy shifts our mindset, our thinking. The results will not just be on the ground but in the way federations are operated too, since there will be more transparency."
The former sports minister's comments come at a crucial time when several sports federations are reevaluating their talent development strategies and considering the long-term impact of relying on overseas talent versus building robust domestic training systems.
