In an exclusive conversation with India TV on #TeamModiOnIndiaTV, sports minister Kiren Rijiju has said that roadmap has been laid for the return of sports in India.

Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju, in an exclusive chat with India TV, took aim at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and accused him of instigating the poor. He even termed his rhetoric 'senseless' in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

IPL 2020 was slated to begin from March 29 onwards at the Wankhede, but was postponed twice owing to the coronavirus concern.

Kiren Rijiju opened up on sports in India in the post-COVID-19 era, and also talked about the possibility of IPL taking place this year.

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said activities will be conducted in sports complexes and stadia strictly in accordance with Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines.

In a letter to the Minister, Panghal, who became India's first male boxer to win a world championship silver last year, said that athletes should not have to plead their case for an award by nominating themselves.

Rijiju reiterated that on-field training will resume once the Standard Operating Procedure is formulated by a six-member committee of the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

Taking stock of the situation during a virtual meeting, Rijiju interacted with top track and field athletes, including javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and sprinter Hima Das.

The Indian weightlifters requested sports minister Kiren Rijiju to allow the resumption of training through a video conference.

Rijiju further appealed to all the sportspersons and stakeholders not to rush into "because health and safety is our top priority presently".

The SAI has already formed a committee to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the phased resumption of training across sporting disciplines at all its centres.

Rijiju said that the ministry will be looking to help those sports that don't get significant television coverage.

Sports minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said all necessary precautions will be put in place before sparring can commence again.

Kambala jockey Srinivas Gowda of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh's Rameshwar Gurjar hit national headlines last year for running in slushy and dusty fields respectively.

Rijiju said the coronavirus-forced nationwide lockdown, which has been extended till May 17, forced his ministry to delay the resumption of the training camps at Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres. 

Pointing out how swimmers from Asian countries such as China and Japan have been giving a tough competition to Americans, Europeans and Australians, the Sports Minister said that genetically India is well-equipped to master the sport.

Rijiju said talent scouting for 2028 Olympics has already begun and the process will get further boost once the nationwide coronavirus-forced lockdown is lifted.

Kiren Rijiju said that kabaddi has huge potential not just in India and Asia, but globally and the ultimate aim of the country is to have the sport included in the Olympics.

Speaking in the inaugural session of the six-day online seminar jointly hosted by SAFF and AFI, Rijiju said the government would frame athlete-centric and sports-centric policies.

Rijiju's statement came after reports emerged that Indian Olympic Association president Narinder Batra had recently alleged that the ministry was trying to interfere in the functioning of NSFs.