Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates Sansad Khel Mahakumbh in Lucknow

By  News On Air   Apr 19, 2025

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that a new sports culture has developed in the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After inaugurating the Sansad Khel Mahakumbh in Lucknow today, Mr. Singh said that the central and Uttar Pradesh governments have adopted sports-friendly policies.

As a result, youth from small towns are getting a chance to showcased their talent. Mr. Singh said that the government is making every effort to organize the Olympic Games to be held in 2036 in Gujarat, while efforts are also being made to organize other world-class games in India.

The defence minister said that the results of the Khel Maha Kumbh will be clearly visible in the coming years when young players from Lucknow will win medals at the national and international level in large numbers. He highlighted that thousands of players are getting training in nearly 1,000 Khelo India centers at the grassroots level.

Mr. Singh said that Uttar Pradesh has great potential; Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should make efforts to organise the next National Games.

During the function, the defence minister and MP from Lucknow facilitated 10 senior athletes and five coaches from the city division who have represented at Olympic and international platforms, alongside five sports management professionals. Demonstrations of Kalaripayattu, yoga, and Mallakhamba were showcased at the inaugural ceremony to promote indigenous disciplines. Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak, Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma also graced the event.

In the four-day sporting event, over 25 thousand participants are expected to take part in athletics, volleyball, kabaddi, basketball, football, hockey, boxing, and taekwondo contests in junior and senior categories. Students from classes 9 to 12 are competing in the junior category, whereas those from degree colleges and universities are in the senior category.