Pankaj Jain
New Delhi, Feb 12 (UNI) Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Thursday interacted with over 50 sports influencers, media representatives, Arjuna Awardees, fitness coaches and sports personalities ahead of the launch of ‘Delhi Khel Mahakumbh’, scheduled to begin on Friday.
The formal inauguration will be held at Chhatrasal Stadium on February 13 and will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The opening ceremony will feature a grand march-past led by Delhi’s para-athletes.
The month-long sporting event is modelled on the lines of Khelo India and aims to strengthen the sports culture in the national capital.
Addressing the gathering, Sood said Delhi has abundant sporting talent but needs the right platform and opportunities.
He said competitions in seven major sports disciplines, including football, basketball, volleyball and kabaddi, will be held in the initial phase.
The events will take place across 17 major stadiums in Delhi, including Chhatrasal Stadium, Bawana, Najafgarh, Vikaspuri and other key locations in the city.
Highlighting the scale of the event, the Minister said more than 16,000 athletes have already registered, with the process still underway.
The government has set a target of over 30,000 participants for this edition. In the coming years, the aim is to expand participation to more than one lakh grassroots athletes annually.
Sood said the Mahakumbh will provide a strong platform for women athletes, with special focus on their safety and participation.
He added that increased involvement of women in sports would encourage wider participation and create a positive social impact.
Sports help instill discipline among youth and keep them away from substance abuse and other social evils, the minister said. The initiative will not only identify emerging talent but also support their progression to national and international levels, he added.
The Minister said the event would also help assess existing sports infrastructure in Delhi. Organising competitions across multiple venues will provide inputs for future upgrades and improvements.
He added that the Chief Minister has assured the Sports Department that sports facilities in Delhi will be modernised and developed to world-class standards in the coming years.
Sood also announced that Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador of Delhi Khel Mahakumbh to inspire young athletes and generate enthusiasm for sports among the youth.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would help build a strong sporting culture in Delhi and improve the capital’s medal tally at national and international competitions in the years ahead.
