New Delhi witnessed a landmark moment in its sporting history as Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated the ‘Khelo Delhi – Delhi Khel Mahakumbh’ at Chhatrasal Stadium on Friday. This grand state-level mega sports festival marks the capital’s boldest grassroots sports initiative yet, aiming to transform Delhi into a powerhouse of athletic excellence.
Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, the event draws from the Khelo India Mission and Fit India Movement. Its core mission is to engage youth in sports, promote healthy lifestyles, and position Delhi as a premier sports hub. The official mascot, ‘Ranveer’, was unveiled amid cheers, symbolizing the spirited revival of sports culture in the city.
To inspire participants, Olympic medalist and Khel Ratna awardee Ravi Dahiya, international cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, and Paralympic champion Sharad Kumar have been appointed as brand ambassadors. The inauguration featured a spectacular march-past by over 1,000 athletes from CWSN players, school bands, Nashik dhol troupes, universities, and sports associations. Chief Minister Gupta and dignitaries toured the stadium in an open jeep, greeting enthusiastic crowds.
Singer Parmish Verma electrified the atmosphere with his performance, while awards were distributed to outstanding athletes. Cabinet Minister Ashish Sood and Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht joined other notables in attendance.
Addressing the gathering, CM Gupta declared, ‘Delhi Khel Mahakumbh is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of our youth’s energy, dreams, and potential.’ She highlighted the government’s efforts since taking office, including disbursing Rs 33 crore in pending prize money to athletes after nearly three decades. Under the new sports policy, Olympic or Paralympic gold medalists will receive Rs 7 crore, silver Rs 5 crore, and bronze Rs 3 crore. Annual aid of Rs 20 lakh is promised for national and international competitors, with Rs 5 lakh and life insurance up to Rs 10 lakh for state and national-level student athletes.
Gupta reaffirmed the commitment to world-class sports infrastructure, including new stadiums, modern fields, advanced equipment, trained coaches, and top facilities. ‘Our goal is to ensure Delhi athletes face no resource shortages in national or global competitions,’ she stated.
Minister Sood called the Mahakumbh a ‘people’s movement’ to make Delhi India’s sports capital, turning local akharas and neighborhoods into champion breeding grounds. The month-long event spans 17 key venues like Chhatrasal, Rajiv Gandhi Stadiums in Bawana and Singhu, Thyagraj Stadium, and more. It features athletics, football, wrestling, basketball, volleyball, kabaddi, and squash, with over 16,000 registered participants from schools, colleges, universities, academies, clubs, and open categories—aiming for 30,000 this year and 100,000 annually.
Special emphasis on women’s participation includes robust safety and facility measures. Prize structures are among India’s best: team gold wins Rs 1.75 lakh, silver Rs 1.51 lakh, bronze Rs 1.31 lakh; individual events offer Rs 11,000, Rs 9,000, and Rs 7,000 respectively. This festival not only hosts competitions but also evaluates and upgrades Delhi’s sports ecosystem, paving the way for a fitter, more competitive capital.