World Athletics Day: Gujarat’s Khel Mahakumbh Boosting Grassroots Talent Across the State

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Gujarat’s flagship grassroots sports initiative, Khel Mahakumbh, continues to play a major role in identifying and nurturing athletic talent across the state, especially among young athletes from rural and remote regions.

On the occasion of World Athletics Day, the Gujarat government highlighted how the programme has transformed the sporting landscape by creating opportunities for athletes at the village, taluka, district, and state levels. (turn0news1)

Launched in 2010 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, Khel Mahakumbh was designed to encourage sports participation and discover talent from the grassroots. Over the years, the initiative has evolved into one of India’s largest mass participation sporting programmes. (turn0news0)

World Athletics Day, observed annually on May 7, focuses on promoting fitness, discipline, and youth participation in sports. The 2026 theme, “Sport: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers,” reflects the broader role of athletics in empowering young people and promoting social unity through sport. (turn0news1)

This year’s state-level athletics competition under Khel Mahakumbh was held at the High Performance Centre in Nadiad, Kheda district, from January 16 to February 3. The event witnessed participation from 9,383 athletes, including 4,694 boys and 4,689 girls competing across multiple age categories ranging from Under-9 to open division. (turn0news0)

The competition featured 390 events covering sprint races, long-distance running, hurdles, relays, jumping disciplines, throwing events, and race walking. Medal winners and top performers were rewarded with prizes and tracksuits as part of the state’s athlete development programme. (turn0news1)

Khel Mahakumbh has also produced several successful athletes who later represented India at international competitions. Among them are Asian Games gold medallist Sarita Gayakwad and long-distance runner Murali Gavit, who won bronze at the 2019 Asian Athletics Championships. (turn0news0)

Officials say the initiative continues to strengthen Gujarat’s sports culture by expanding infrastructure, talent scouting systems, and training opportunities for aspiring athletes. Participation numbers have grown significantly over the years, with millions of players now competing annually under the Khel Mahakumbh banner. (turn0search9)

The programme is widely viewed as a key pillar of Gujarat’s long-term ambition to emerge as one of India’s leading sporting states.

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