As the long nine-night dance festival — Navaratri Garba — ended in Gujarat, the adrenaline rush has now shifted to sports, with the beginning of the biggest sporting event (participation wise) in India - Khel Maha Kumbh (KMK).
The sporting extravaganza, the fifth edition of the KMK that kick-started from the coastal Bhavnagar town on the day after Dussehra, will continue for almost 50 days and end on November 22, 2014. Nearly 35 lakh participants will vie for a massive cash prize of Rs 30 crore in different disciplines and categories.
A brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the KMK was held for the first time in the State in 2010 when he was Gujarat Chief Minister. The mega event was initiated to mark the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the formation of Gujarat. In the very first KMK, the response was overwhelming as 16.50 lakh players registered themselves for the event. After that, the KMK became a much-awaited annual event with increasing registrations.
“The objective of the KMK is to spread awareness, creation of sports environment and talent identification. Ahead of the KMK every year, a baton rally is organised from State capital Gandhinagar, which covers all the districts and reaches the opening ceremony venue,” said Bhagyesh Jha, Secretary of Sports, Youth, and Cultural Activities for the Gujarat Government.
Talking to The Pioneer, Commissioner of Sports Sandip Pradhan said the sporting festival is being conducted in 21 sports for different age groups such as under-11, under 13, under 16, open age group, 45+ and 60+ across all the districts and Municipal Corporations.
"The districts are divided into different units consisting of tehsils (blocks) and municipality. The competition in some sports starts from the village level whereas in some sports, it starts from DPS (District Panchayat Seat level or ward level), some from Tehsil or Municipality and other sports from District level or Corporation," added Pradhan.
Over 35 lakh males and females will be competing in sports, including athletics, kabaddi, volleyball, tug-of-war, shooting ball, kho-kho, chess, yoga asana, swimming, badminton, table tennis, lawn tennis, skating, taekwondo, judo, wrestling, archery, hockey, handball, basketball, and football. Besides, three beach sports - volley ball, football and cricket - will also be played on the coastal belt of Gujarat as part of the KMK. For differently-abled people, the Government has also started a special KMK in which over one lakh players are expected to participate.