The registration for Khel Mahakumbh has been started from 18th February 2022 in the ‘Curtain Raiser’ event. Khel Mahakumbh has become a pillar not only for sports talent search but also for the development of sports in the whole of Gujarat. Khel Mahakumbh has given a prominent identity to the sports policy of the state. He had clearly stated that Khel Maha Kumbh would be held this year keeping in view the situation of COVID-19.
The Chief Minister added that the mantra of ‘Ramshe Gujarat-Jitse Gujarat’ is now echoing in the minds of all the young and old in Gujarat. He further said that this is the playground is the foundation of childhood. The infrastructure is built in such a way that even the Olympics can be arranged. With an excellent, human resources system, it is facilitated for the participants who are willing to take their passion to the peak.
The initiative was started with the motive to promote young players of Gujarat and prepare them globally by Former Chief Minister Narendra Modi a decade ago in Gujarat with the slogan ‘Khele te khile’, which has now become a huge public festival by bringing the sports sector out of neglect. Due to Khel Mahakumbh, Gujarat has made an impact in the field of sports by eliminating the shortage. Today, Gujarat’s players are making a name for themselves at the national and international levels. This is not just a sports festival but it is a very important stage in the development of Gujarat, said the Chief Minister.
It is a grand campaign to make the mental and physical abilities of the youth world-class in the age of competition. This dimension has reached its new stage today which is a matter of pride for Gujarat. The main objective of Khel Mahakumbh is to create awareness among the people towards sports, to maintain physical fitness, and to develop a culture of sports.
The Chief Minister said that wide participation of people has been seen in Khel Mahakumbh. The number of registrations is also increasing every year. About 16.5 lakh sports persons had registered to participate in the Khel Maha Kumbh held in 2010.
Appealing to the youth and sportspersons of Gujarat, the Chief Minister said that the target of 75 lakh registrations in Khel Maha Kumbh is the next year of independence. The Chief Minister added that in the year of ‘Amrut Mahotsav of Independence’, Gujarat’s teenagers, youth, young and eligible sportspersons maximum participation from them in Khel Maha Kumbh. On the occasion of this ‘Curtain Raiser’ of Khel Maha Kumbh, the Chief Minister also requested to take inspiration of fitness from the freedom fighters and great men of the country.
Shri Harsh Sanghvi, Minister of State for Sports and Youth Culture, said in the speech that ‘Khel Maha Kumbh’ is the means of bringing out the power of the youth of every village, taluka, and district of the state. The Khel Maha Kumbh campaign, launched by the then Chief Minister Shri and the present Prime Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi, is taking on new dimensions today.
The activity of ‘Khel Maha Kumbh’ under the leadership of Chief Minister of the State Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel is moving ahead in a planned manner. It is expected that more than 3 million players from the state will participate in it. The state government is also planning the implementation of Covid’s guidelines.
The Minister further said that the state government is going to build state-of-the-art sports centers at various places in the state. At the same time, it is committed to developing sports ancillary facilities keeping in view the available infrastructural facilities. The state government has made a comprehensive plan to provide all the sports facilities to the youth of the state in the near future. Specialist coaches for various sports are also planned to provide training guidance to the youth.
The state government is working result-oriented towards completing the work of ‘Swarnim Gujarat Sports University’ in the state. In the next two months, more international standard facilities are committed to making it operational by May 15, 2022.
The state government is working towards formulating a ‘sports policy’ in the state, the Minister said that efforts are being made to increase the production of sportswear in other cities including Surat and Ahmedabad which are textile hubs in the state. He also gave details of the policy being formulated for the state’s athletes to get jobs in the police department.
In his welcome address, Mr. Ashwini Kumar, Secretary of Department of Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities, said that there is a positive atmosphere towards sports in the state. Gujarat, which is a citizen-centric state, has become a hotbed of activities following Khel Maha Kumbh.
On this occasion Chief Secretary Shri Pankaj Kumar, Ahmedabad Collector Shri Sandeep Sangle, Mahesh Patel Shri Kiritbhai Parmar, District Development Officer Shri Anilbhai Dhamelia, MLA of Daskaroi Babubhai Patel, Secretary of Sports Authority of Gujarat Shri R.D. Dr. Bhatt, Vice-Chancellor of Swarnim Gujarat Sports University. Arjun Singh Rana, former cricketer Parthiv Patel were present. As well as district collectors and office bearers from each district level were also virtually joined.
