Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today opened the Kheul Mahakumbh sports festival at Ahmedabad’s Shahibag stadium. Following are excerpts of his speech.

“We are always disappointed when Indian players don’t win any medal in Olympic. But we will not remain silent anymore. I know the Khel Mahakumbh will not bring major change just tomorrow, but Khel Mahakumbh is our first step in correct direction.”

“Players do not come from play ground or related mechanism, but they come from the culture of sports.”

“Sports man spirit is not just limited to sportsmen, this spirit belongs to the society. It is sports that is the mother of sports man spirits. Khel Mahakumbh will create an atmosphere of sports man spirit in the state. Moreover this festival will help in pulling out the sports talent in the state. Large number of girls have participated in this sports festival, which is welcome trend.”

“Sports activities were earlier limited to large city people. But now more and more middle class and small city people are getting involved in this. Lajja Goswami is latest example of this. She won Commonwealth medal. I want to take sports activities to small houses.”