PM Modi inaugurates 11th Khel Mahakumbh in Ahmedabad
PM Modi mentioned that earlier Indian sports scene was dominated by few sports and indigenous sports were ignored. Sports were also infected by nepotism and “lack of transparency in the selection of players was also a big factor.
Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday declared open the 11th Khel Mahakumbh at Ahmedabad. The Governor of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat and The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel were among those present on the occasion.
At the outset, the Prime Minister noted the sea of youth energy and enthusiasm in the stadium and said that this is not just sports mahakumbh but also a mahakumbh of the youth power of Gujarat. The Prime Minister’s speech was preceded by a grand ceremony.
The Prime Minister said that the Mahkumbh did not take place for two years due to the pandemic, but this grand event has filled the sportsperson with new confidence and energy. “the seed that I sowed 12 years ago has become a grand banyan tree today”, said the Prime Minister who started the games as then Chief Minister of Gujarat. Started in 2010 in Gujarat under the visionary leadership of the then Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi, with 16 sports and 13 lakh participants, Khel Mahakumbh today encompasses 36 general sports and 26 para sports. Over 45 lakh sportspersons have registered for 11th Khel Mahakumbh.
PM Modi mentioned that earlier Indian sports scene was dominated by few sports and indigenous sports were ignored. Sports were also infected by nepotism and “lack of transparency in the selection of players was also a big factor. All the talent of the players was spent in battling the problems.Coming out of that vortex, the youth of India are touching the sky today.The glow of gold and silver is polishing the confidence of the country,”, he said.
The Prime Minister pointed out that India is winning record number of medals in events like Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. He said he has full confidence in the youth of the country. “India won 7 medals for the first time in Tokyo Olympics.The same record was made by the sons and daughters of India in the Tokyo Paralympics as well.India won 19 medals in this global competition.But, this is only the beginning.India is neither going to stop nor is it going to get tired”, Shri Modi emphasized.
