Bhavnagar, 3 October 2014

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today declared open the 5th statewide Khel Mahakumbh at Bhavnagar, considered to be the cultural city of the Saurashtra region.

Speaking on the occasion, she said the mega sports event started by her predecessor the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi on the golden jubilee year of the state’s formation in 2010 has started paying dividend as many sportspersons from the state have started winning medals in national and international games. The government has allocated nearly Rs.33-crore for sports promotion in the annual budget.

Mrs. Patel announced setting up Sports School in every district to provide best possible training in various games and events, and Swami Vivekanand Gymnasiums and Fitness Centres in every taluka. She also announced a state-level Table Tennis and Basketball Academy, an Rs.15-cr multipurpose hall to stage international events and a Rs.6-cr synthetic athletic track for Bhavnagar city.

She said that Gujarat was at the receiving end of neglect in various sports and games. The Sports University should contribute to send a wave of the sports culture across the state, from the school and college level itself. Besides, there are incentives worth Rs.5-crore down to Rs.25-lakh for winning medals and prizes at international and national games respectively. The Shaktidoot Yojna is for training the bright and talented sportspersons from middleclass and poor families. She asked the young sportspersons to create awareness for cleanliness awareness also.

The Chief Minister presented cheques of Rs.20-lakh to Gopichand, Lajja Goswami and Mana Patel in badminton and rifle shooting, who have risen from Khel Mahakumbh to International Games.

Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports Nanubhai Vanani said that it was due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative that five sportspersons from Gujarat have so far won medals at the Asian games in South Korea.

Those present on the occasion included Rajya Sabha Whip Mansukh Mandviya, Vidhan Sabha Chief Whip Atmaram Parmar, BADA Chairman Amol Shah, MP Bhartiben Shial, MLA Jitubhai Vaghani and Vibhavariben Dave, Sports & Youth Services Cultural Affairs Secretary Bhagyesh Jha and other officers, besides a large number of sports fans.