Haryana CM Inaugurates 6th Khel Maha Kumbh, Vows Olympic Glory with 15,410 Athletes Competing

Panchkula, August 2, 2025 — A vibrant surge of sportsmanship echoed through Tau Devi Lal Stadium as Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini inaugurated the sixth state-level Khel Maha Kumbh, hailing it as a springboard for Olympic aspirations. Amid cheering crowds and the thud of kabaddi players hitting the mat, the CM declared the games open, emphasizing that Haryana’s athletic journey was no longer just a regional story but a national mission.

This year’s edition marks a significant expansion, with 15,410 participants competing across 26 sports disciplines. The event is now being viewed as one of the largest state-level sports gatherings in India, and the CM used the platform to reinforce Haryana’s bold ambition: becoming the sports capital of the world and a dominant force at the 2036 Olympic Games.

“Our athletes brought back five of India’s six Olympic medals from Paris in 2024, and four of seven in Tokyo 2020,” said CM Saini. “This is not coincidence. This is the outcome of years of vision, strategy, and investment. Khel Maha Kumbh is no longer just an event it is a movement that will carry Haryana to global sporting glory.”

The CM also outlined the state’s achievements in previous international events. Haryana athletes clinched 28 of India’s 111 medals at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, and secured 20 medals at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. This success, he said, was built on early talent identification, structured coaching, and strong financial incentives.

Currently, Haryana runs 1,489 sports nurseries training over 37,000 children. Each young athlete receives ₹1,500–2,000 per month to support their development. Since 2014, ₹593 crore has been distributed in cash rewards, 224 athletes have been offered government jobs, and 550 posts have been created under the Utkrisht Khiladi Seva Niyam 2021. More than 29,000 students have benefited from sports scholarships worth ₹53 crore, and 15,634 players have received essential equipment under the Haryana Sports Equipment Provision Scheme.

Minister of State for Sports Gaurav Gautam lauded CM Saini’s unwavering focus on sports development, claiming the Khel Maha Kumbh has now surpassed even the national Khelo India events in scale and impact. “Haryana has just 2% of the nation’s population but contributes over 60% of its medals. That’s no accident—it’s a result of Mission Olympic Vijay Bhava and our systemic support from grassroots to elite level,” he said.

In a pointed critique of the opposition, Gautam contrasted the present government’s decade-long sports investment of ₹600 crore with the ₹33 crore spent during the Congress regime.

The opening ceremony saw the presence of MP Kartikeya Sharma, MLA Shakti Rani Sharma, Panchkula Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal, former Speaker Gyan Chand Gupta, Sports Principal Secretary Navdeep Singh Virk, Director Sanjeev Verma, and sporting icons like Babita Phogat and Deepak Hooda.

The 6th Khel Maha Kumbh has turned into more than just a competition. It is now a stage where young talent is nurtured, future champions take shape, and Haryana’s Olympic dreams gain momentum with every match played and every medal won.