Rajyavardhan Rathore appointed as India's new sports minister

New Delhi: Olympic silver medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore was on Sunday appointed as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports. Rathore was till now serving as Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting.

In a major cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rathore replaces Vijay Goel, who has been made the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs.

"I express my gratitude to the Prime Minister of the country for reposing faith in me and giving me a very important ministry. I say it's important because if we have to build a new India, the new India will be build by the youth of this nation," the 47-old year told ANI.

"And the youth of the nation should be provided with the best of the opportunities. It's not just that in schools and colleges that you find education for life but it's also in the sports field," he added.

The Athens Olympic silver medallist further said that both the central and the state governments should provide the young generation with the best of the opportunities.

Rathore added that it's the job of the Sports Ministry to be a service provider for sportspersons.

"Let's create systems that takeaway all hurdles from the sportsmen other than his adversary. Let's create a new India that is fit, mentally and physically strong and is able to win medals for this country," he said.

Rathore, country's first Olympic silver medallist, has three Commonwealth Gold medals, and two World Championship Gold medals as well to his name.

Colonel Rathore stepped into the shooting range in the mid 1990s. After his premature retirement from the Indian Army, Rathore joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2013 and was sworn in as Minister of State when the Modi Government came to power in May, 2014.