In a major move to strengthen India’s grassroots sports ecosystem, ONGC is reportedly partnering with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to launch a program focused on identifying and nurturing rural sports talent. This Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) backed initiative could revolutionize sports development at the village level.

The proposed scheme, unofficially named “Khel Udaan”, aims to establish training hubs in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, with initial pilots expected in Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Assam. These centers will provide equipment, coaching, nutritional support, and monthly scholarships to underprivileged yet high-potential athletes.

ONGC has a strong history of supporting sports and has previously backed elite athletes in wrestling, athletics, and hockey. SAI, on the other hand, has national infrastructure and administrative bandwidth. Together, their collaboration could become a template for PSU-backed Olympic pipelines.

A SAI official said, "With ONGC’s resources and our network, we hope to make a real impact at the grassroots level before the 2028 Olympics."

Experts believe such partnerships not only boost national pride but also strengthen the brand image of PSUs as social-impact organizations.