Khel Mahakumbh will make Gujarat No.1 in sports sector: Rupani

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Tuesday kicked-started the seventh edition of the longest sports festival of Gujarat - "Khel Mahakumbh" from the door-step of goddess Ambaji - Palanpur of Banaskantha. On the occasion he said that Khel Mahakumbh has become a majestic national sports festival.
Rupani expressed his commitment to make Gujarat No. 1 in sports sector across the nation.In this regard he said that state government will always be ready with an objective to provide unique platform and prestige to sports sector in the state. This is a mass-awareness initiation to release qualities of sportsman spirit along with passion in our youth, he added.
He said that the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi has created an atmosphere of sportsmanship among the people of Gujarat in sports sector through Khel Mahakumbh and brought Gujarat at the 9th position from 28th across the nation. More than 40 lakh sports lover people such as children, teenagers and elders got registered in as many as 30 games. This event expresses the sentiments of people towards sportsmanship.
On the event of inauguration, Rupani handed over various cheques of assistance from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 19 lakh to about 32 talented players under Shaktidoot Yojana. He also launched tourism mobile app which has been developed by the Banaskantha Administration.
Rupani felicitated Chief Coach of Badminton India and Coach of Olympic medal winner P. V. Sindhu; Pullela Gopichand, Shooter Gagan Narang, the first Gujarati lady Chetnaben Rana for climbing Everest, Captain of Indian Kabaddi Team Anup Kumar, Captain of Kenya Kabaddi Team David and other Kenyan team players.
In his welcome speech Minister of State for Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department Rajendra Trivedi said that the youth gets coaching from expert coaches, comprehensive facilities and full inspiration for sports in Gujarat. Therefore, the players from Gujarat will create place for the nation in various sports in forthcoming period.