New Delhi: The government will soon implement a national programme to identify "youngsters who have sports expertise", Minister of State for Sports Sarbananda Sonowal said Wednesday.

"Youngsters who have sports expertise will be identified through the National Sports Talent Search programme," Sonowal said replying supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha.

"The government will train them in sports and games to represent the country in international events," he said.

He said special attention will be paid to the backward areas.