Don’t judge a child by one test: Binder’s message to India’s Olympic talent hunt

Indian shooting legend Abhinav Bindra looks forward to seeing how India’s ambitious under-15 talent identification program is shaping up. But he believes the initiative needs to give young athletes time to grow, rather than judging their potential by results at an early age.

The Ministry of Sports has developed a four-step talent identification and development module under the Khelo India Scheme for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. The aim is to identify promising youngsters and prepare them to compete in the 2036 Olympics, which India is offer to host in Ahmedabad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the initiative during his Independence Day speech earlier this year.

Bindra, who became India’s first individual Olympic gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Games, welcomed the move but raised several questions about how talent will be evaluated.

In a post on X, the former rifle shooter pointed out that behind every rating and performance figure is a kid with a dream. He argued that an athlete who struggles at age 14 could still achieve remarkable things ten years later.

“A kid who isn’t the best at 14 may still have what it takes to be great at 24,” Bindra wrote.

He hopes the program recognizes that potential cannot always be measured with a single test or assessment.

It is really encouraging to see India gearing up for a more systematic approach to talent identification at the grassroots level. It is a welcome move and a great opportunity to build something meaningful for the future of Indian sports. As we begin this journey, I feel there are some important questions to ponder. Because behind every test, every rating and every number is a little kid with a dream. When we evaluate two 14-year-olds, are we always comparing talent, or are we sometimes comparing biological maturity? One child may be stronger, faster or better coordinated simply because they developed earlier. How do we distinguish this temporary advantage from the long-term potential? And could a child who seems less promising at 14 become extraordinary at 23? Are we measuring only what the child can do today, or also his ability to learn, adapt and improve? How do we account for differences in nutrition, family circumstances and access to coaching? A child who has never had structured training may not perform as well as a child who has been supported for years. But does it necessarily tell us who has more potential? Should we track growth and maturation over time so that training, recovery and injury prevention reflect how each child develops, not just how old they are? And can we give elementary coaches the knowledge and tools to recognize these differences, especially during the rapid changes of adolescence? It is also important to consider something about the occasion. If a child develops early, performs well and is selected, he naturally receives better coaching and more attention. But what happens to the child that develops later? How do we ensure that one rating doesn’t quietly close a door that might have opened a few years later? How do we keep children engaged, motivated and believing in themselves when they take a little longer to develop? And how do we recognize the different needs of girls and boys, athletes with disabilities and children playing different sports? Perhaps we should also follow these young athletes over the years and learn which early characteristics actually translate into senior excellence, why some progress while others leave the sport, and how we can keep improving our decisions. These are not questions about what is right or wrong. It’s worth asking them because we have the opportunity to build this system with care, science and a real understanding of the children it’s meant to serve. A kid who isn’t the best at 14 may still have what it takes to be great at 24. As India embarks on this important journey, I hope we build a system that not only recognizes talent, but has the patience to nurture it, the wisdom to look beyond immediate results, and the compassion to ensure that a child’s dream is never defined by a single day of testing.—Dr. Abhinav A. Binnavdra OnLY October 30, 2026

FOUR-STEP PLAN

The ministry framework has four levels: Foundation, Grassroots, Intermediate and Elite. The final stage is supported by the government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which supports athletes preparing for major international competitions.

At the foundation level, emphasis will be placed on introducing children to sports. Through partnerships with schools across the country and the Department of Education, the program will cover basic skills, physical fitness and participation.

The grassroots phase takes children identified through schools and school leagues into the early stages of coaching. The training will be conducted at Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas, Khelo India Feeder Schools and Khelo India Centres.

At the intermediate level, athletes will be classified as Emerging Khelo India Athletes (E-KIA) or Khelo India Athletes (KIA), depending on age-appropriate protocols and performance measures.

They will train at Sports Centers of India Training Centers (STC), SAI National Centers of Excellence (NCoE), Khelo India Accredited Academies (KIAA), Khelo India Centers of Excellence including Universities, Youth Sports Societies working with Armed Forces and other suitable academies.

BINDER’S QUESTIONS

For Bindra, one of the biggest challenges will be making sure the system doesn’t overlook kids who develop later or come from backgrounds with fewer sporting opportunities.

She wants the assessment to look beyond what the child can currently do. The ability to learn, adapt and improve should also count.

“How do we account for differences in nutrition, family circumstances and access to coaching?” he asked.

He emphasized that a child who has never received structured training is unlikely to perform at the same level as someone who has had years of coaching and support. This does not necessarily mean that the other has more potential.

Bindra also warned that early selection could create a cycle in which those who perform well initially get better coaching and more exposure, widening the gap with those who need more time to develop.

He believes the program needs to ensure that one evaluation does not close the door on a child whose talent may emerge years later.

The former Olympic champion also raised questions about how to keep young people motivated when progress is slow. He called for the system to take into account the different needs of girls and boys, athletes with disabilities and children competing in different sports.

Bindra suggested following young athletes for several years to understand which early qualities translate into success at the senior level. It would also help to find out why some young people progress while others end up leaving the sport.

His larger point is straightforward. India’s quest for future Olympic medalists must leave enough room for the kids to develop at their own pace. A disappointing day on the 14th should not determine what an athlete can achieve on the 24th.

– The end