In a vibrant ceremony at Chhatrasal Stadium, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta kicked off the ‘Khelo Delhi – Delhi Khel Mahakumbh’, heralding a new era for grassroots sports in the national capital. Billed as the largest-ever state-level sports extravaganza, this initiative promises to unearth talent and foster a sporting revolution.
The mascot ‘Ranveer’ stole the show during its unveiling, embodying the festival’s energetic spirit. Modeled after national programs like Khelo India and Fit India, the Mahakumbh seeks to connect young Delhiites with sports, encouraging fitness and elevating the city to sports hub status. It’s poised to revive sports culture and propel local talents to national and international stages.
Star power amplified the launch: wrestling icon Ravi Dahiya, cricket star Shikhar Dhawan, and para-athlete Sharad Kumar signed on as ambassadors. The event peaked with a dazzling march-past involving CWSN athletes, school bands, traditional drummers, and representatives from universities and federations—totaling over 1,000 performers. Gupta’s open-jeep parade through the stadium drew roaring applause.
Performances by singer Parmish Verma and athlete felicitations added flair, with ministers Ashish Sood and Mohan Singh Bisht among the guests.
CM Gupta emphasized, ‘This isn’t just an event; it’s a festival of youthful aspirations.’ She detailed post-government formation strides: clearing Rs 33 crore in long-pending athlete prizes. The revamped sports policy dazzles with Rs 7 crore for Olympic gold, scaling down to Rs 3 crore for bronze, plus yearly Rs 20 lakh support for top competitors and benefits for students.
Infrastructure vows include state-of-the-art stadiums, upgraded fields, gear, coaching, and amenities to eliminate hurdles for Delhi’s sports stars. Minister Sood dubbed it a ‘new dawn’, envisioning every locality as a training hub to lead India’s sports scene.
Spanning a month across 17 venues—including major spots like Thyagraj, East Vinod Nagar, Najafgarh, and National Stadium—the festival hosts seven disciplines. Registration has surged past 16,000, targeting 30,000 now and 1 lakh yearly from diverse groups. Women’s empowerment is central, with enhanced security.
Lucrative prizes—Rs 1.75 lakh for team gold, etc.—set benchmarks. Beyond races and matches, it assesses infrastructure, ensuring Delhi’s youth drive the nation’s fitness and victory quests.