Ahmedabad, 23 December 2013

Curtains were drawn on the fourth statewide annual Khel Mahakumbh-2013 with 1,387 prizes worth Rs.24.47-crores were distributed at the concluding function at the J.D. Nagarwala Police Stadium at Shahibaug here today.

According to the state government, record 31.44-lakh sportspersons participated in 21 Indian games and athletic events this year’s Khel Mahakumbh, as against 25-lakh last year. As many as 87 new records were broken this year.

Congratulating the winners and all participants, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said the mega sports event in its fourth year has helped visible improvement of state’s sportspersons in their skills in different events, from school level itself. It has also provided spirit of sportsmanship and confidence to them. He exuded confidence Gujarat would soon start providing many sportspersons to India for international events.

Mr. Modi said that one of the biggest achievements of this mega event this year has been the talent search and participation of over 80,000 differently challenged children. The other highlight has been novel initiative of Sports Authority of Gujarat to provide training in self-defence to 1.53-lakh girls and women.

Youth Services and Cultural Affairs Minister Ramanlal Vora recalled that Khel Mahakumbh was started four years back with participation of 16-lakh. He said that Gujarat Government had at its expenses had also sent 38 winners from games for differently challenged to Australia.

A troupe presented a theme musicale scripted by Youth Services and Cultural Affairs Secretary Bhagyesh Jha. Women trained in self-defence demonstrated their skill. The final tug-o-war match evoked much enthusiasm in which Porbandar defeated Mehsana.

The star attraction of the mega event were Arjun Award winner Limba Ram, chess grand master U.B. Lava, table tennis coach Kamlesh Mehta, international level sportspersons Ishat Shah, Jayesh Jain, Asian Special Olympics Chairman Air Marshal Denzil and Australian envoy Jennie Mitchell.

Dignitaries present on the occasion included Ministers Anandiben Patel, Bhupendrasinh Chudasma, Ganpat Vasava, Babubhai Bokhiria, Pradeepsinh Jadeja and Leeladhar Vaghela, MPs Purushottam Rupala, Kiritbhai Solanki and Harin Pathak, Ahmedabad Mayor Meenaxiben Patel, Chief Secretary Varesh Sinha, senior Police Officers, among others.