World Athletics Day: Gujarat highlights focus on grassroots sporting talent through Khel Mahakumbh

World Athletics Day is celebrated annually on May 7 with the aim of promoting fitness, discipline and awareness about sports among young people.

Gandhinagar:  Gujarat observed World Athletics Day on Thursday by highlighting the growing participation of young athletes in the state through the ‘Khel Mahakumbh’ initiative, which saw 9,383 players compete in the state-level athletics competition held in Nadiad earlier this year.

World Athletics Day is celebrated annually on May 7 with the aim of promoting fitness, discipline and awareness about sports among young people.

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The theme for this year’s World Athletics Day is ‘Sport: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers’, focusing on the role of athletics in strengthening social connection, unity and equality through physical activity. Describing athletics as the “base of all sports”, the state government said the Khel Mahakumbh initiative has helped create opportunities for players from rural and remote areas to showcase their abilities at the state level.

“The youth of Gujarat are today bringing glory to the state in the field of sports and are making sports a profession,” officials said, attributing the growth of sports culture in the state to the “visionary leadership” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who launched Khel Mahakumbh in 2010 during his tenure as Gujarat chief minister.

According to the government, the initiative has generated fresh enthusiasm for sports across Gujarat and has helped identify talent from interior regions of the state.

The state-level athletics competition under Khel Mahakumbh 2025 was organised at the High Performance Centre in Nadiad of Kheda district, from January 16 to February 3.

A total of 9,383 athletes from across the state participated in the competition, including 4,694 boys and 4,689 girls.

Participants competed across Under-9, Under-11, Under-14, Under-17 and open age categories, reflecting what the government described as growing interest and wider participation in sports.

The competition featured 390 events, including races from 30 metres to 5,000 metres, 80m, 100m, 110m and 400m hurdles, long jump, high jump, pole vault, triple jump, shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, hammer throw, relay races and race walking events. Players delivering strong performances were honoured with medals and tracksuits.

The government also highlighted athletes who have emerged through Gujarat’s sports ecosystem, including Sarita Gaikwad, Mayur Malaviya, Ruchit Mori and Murali Gavit.

Sarita Gaikwad, known as the “Golden Girl” from Dang district, won a gold medal as part of India’s women’s 4×400 metre relay team at the 2018 Asian Games.

Murali Gavit secured a bronze medal in the men’s 10,000 metre event at the 2019 Asian Athletics Championships, bringing international recognition to Gujarat athletics.

Officials added that the state government remains committed to supporting talented athletes and strengthening the state’s position in sports.