Tanakpur (Uttarakhand) [India], September 1 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday inaugurated the ‘Khel Mahakumbh-Chief Minister’s Championship Trophy 2026’ at the Late Kailash Chandra Gahtori Sports Stadium in Tanakpur, Champawat district. The Chief Minister formally launched the sporting event by handing over the torch to outstanding athlete Gehna Mahar.
On the occasion, participating players took an oath to compete with discipline, fairness and true sporting spirit. Players also presented yoga asanas and Uttarakhand’s traditional sport, ‘Murga Jhapta’, according to a press release from Uttarakhand CMO.
Encouraging the players who had arrived from different parts of the state, CM Dhami said that Khel Mahakumbh is emerging as a powerful platform to take sporting talent from the soil of Uttarakhand’s villages to the state, national and international levels. He said the state government is committed to ensuring that no talented sportsperson is left behind due to a lack of opportunities, resources or a proper platform.
The Chief Minister said sports are not merely about winning medals, but also teach discipline, build confidence, instil the ability to face challenges and give players the courage to rise again after setbacks.
Sports contribute not only to a healthy body but also to building strong character and a stronger nation. The state government is working with the objective of making sports an important foundation for the bright future of Uttarakhand’s youth.
CM Dhami said Khel Mahakumbh was launched in 2017 with the objective of providing a platform to sporting talent hidden in villages across the state.
The event has now entered its 10th edition. More than 2.2 lakh players participated in Khel Mahakumbh last year, and he expressed confidence that an even larger number of children and youth would participate this year.
He said Khel Mahakumbh has been given a broader format this year. Competitions will begin at the Nyaya Panchayat level and progress through the assembly and parliamentary constituency levels before culminating at the state level, providing players with opportunities to showcase their talent at various stages.
The government’s objective is to identify sporting talent in villages and remote areas and provide them with adequate opportunities to progress, he said.
The Chief Minister said winners from the Nyaya Panchayat level up to the state level are being awarded cash prizes. Around Rs 11 crore in prize money will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of players through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) this year.
He also announced that, from this year, players winning medals in state-level Khel Mahakumbh competitions will be eligible for 4 per cent horizontal reservation in government services. He said the initiative is a recognition of the hard work, talent and aspirations of sportspersons.
CM Dhami said Uttarakhand’s athletes had delivered an outstanding performance at the 38th National Games hosted by the state, bringing pride to Uttarakhand.
He expressed confidence that talent emerging from the Khel Mahakumbh platform would go on to represent Uttarakhand and the country with distinction at national and international competitions.
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there has been a significant change in the country’s approach towards sports. Initiatives such as ‘Khelo India’ and the ‘Fit India Movement’ have provided opportunities for sporting talent from villages and remote areas to come forward.
With better training, modern facilities and greater encouragement, India is continuously achieving new milestones on the global sporting stage.
He said that under the Prime Minister’s guidance, the Uttarakhand government is also working continuously for the overall development of sports and sportspersons in the state. Under the state’s new sports policy, players who win medals at national and international levels are being provided government jobs through an out-of-turn appointment policy.
So far, 29 sportspersons have been appointed to government service, while the process of providing employment in various departments to medal winners from the 38th National Games is also being taken forward.
CM Dhami said sportspersons are being encouraged through the Chief Minister’s Sports Development Fund. Selected players at the state’s residential sports colleges and sports hostels are being provided free training, accommodation, food, sports equipment, sports kits, education and medical facilities.
The Chief Minister said champions begin their preparation from childhood. With this vision, monthly scholarships are being provided to children aged 8 to 14 years under the Chief Minister’s Emerging Player Development Scheme, enabling them to receive the right direction and encouragement for their sporting talent from an early age.
He said players aged 14 to 23 years are being provided monthly scholarships under the Chief Minister’s Player Incentive Scheme, along with financial assistance for purchasing sports equipment. Insurance provisions have also been made for players in case of accidents during competitions and training.
The Chief Minister said the state government is working rapidly to develop strong and modern sports infrastructure across Uttarakhand. Recently, the foundation stone for the first phase of the Uttarakhand State Sports University in Haldwani was laid, and its first academic session was inaugurated. An announcement has also been made for the construction of a modern stadium equipped with advanced sports facilities in Khatima.
He said special emphasis is being laid on promoting different sporting disciplines and local athletes through the ‘One District, One Sport’ initiative. The government aims to develop a distinctive sporting identity for every district and provide adequate opportunities for local talent to excel.
The Chief Minister urged the players to enter the field with full strength, dedication, discipline and commitment and take their passion for sports to new heights. He assured them that the state government would leave no stone unturned in nurturing their talent, providing better facilities and securing their future.
CM Dhami expressed confidence that Khel Mahakumbh 2026 would prove to be an important milestone in Uttarakhand’s sporting history. He said that with the talent, hard work and determination of the state’s youth, Uttarakhand’s ‘resolve without an alternative’ to establish itself as the country’s ‘Land of Sports’ would certainly be fulfilled. (ANI)
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