Free Government Sports Coaching for Your Kid: How to Get In

KIRTI is free, open to ages 9-18, and registration is online via the MyBharat/talent-hunt portal — no school recommendation needed.

SAI runs three residential pathways: NSTC (8-14, school-based), STC (10-18, junior grooming) and SAG for rural/tribal/coastal talent.

A Khelo India Scholar gets long-term support — training, boarding, kit and tournament costs — worth roughly ₹6.28 lakh a year.

Selection is trials plus standardised fitness tests, now aided by AI scoring, not contacts or fees.

The ladder runs KIRTI/SAI → Khelo India Scholar → TOPS, so getting spotted early is the key step.