Nagpur to boast quality sports infra to complement growing sports culture, says Fadnavis

Nagpur: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said Nagpur is rapidly emerging as a major sporting hub, backed by large-scale investments in infrastructure and a growing culture of participation. Addressing the closing ceremony of the week-long Khasdar Krida Mahotsav, he said the city is building the foundation to produce skilled athletes and sports professionals while creating new career opportunities in the sector.Fadnavis said the annual sports festival, organised under the guidance of Union minister Nitin Gadkari, has evolved into an effective platform for talent identification and grassroots participation. He noted that the event has expanded steadily over the years, providing training and exposure to thousands of athletes."A strong sports culture is taking root in Nagpur. Excellence in sports today is valued on par with academic achievement, while increasing professionalism has opened diverse avenues for employment and growth," he said. He added that sports play a crucial role in instilling discipline, teamwork, and a competitive spirit among the youth.Highlighting upcoming projects, Fadnavis said the international-standard sports complex at Mankapur and the proposed sports university would significantly strengthen the city's sports infrastructure and training ecosystem.Addressing the gathering, Gadkari announced that the next edition of the Khasdar Krida Mahotsav would be expanded to the Vidarbha level with participation from more than one lakh athletes."We want to develop Nagpur as a sports capital," Gadkari said. He said the goal is to build at least 25 swimming pools and ensure access to sporting facilities in every locality. "Our vision is to see more than one lakh boys and girls actively engaged in sports every evening," he said.Union minister of state for youth affairs and sports Raksha Khadse said the next decade would be pivotal for Indian sports as the country strengthens its sporting ecosystem in pursuit of hosting the 2036 Olympics. She noted that Maharashtra remains among the leading states in national competitions and said the sector is generating growing employment opportunities.Nagpur guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced that around ₹45 crore has been earmarked for sports infrastructure projects in the district. He said planning for multiple initiatives is underway and congratulated the organisers on the successful conduct of the festival.Fadnavis, Gadkari strike a musical noteGadkari and Fadnavis added a touch of entertainment to the closing ceremony when they briefly joined singer Shanmukha Priya on stage during her performance. At the singer's request, Fadnavis rendered a few lines of the evergreen song ‘Gulabi Aankhen', drawing loud applause from the audience. Gadkari followed with a few lines from ‘Kabhie To Hasaye Kabhie To Rulaye', earning cheers from the crowd and adding to the festive mood.KKM Concludes: Sportspersons fetedAs many as 14 sportspersons from various disciplines were honoured with the Khasdar Krida Bhushan Award, along with special awards. The awardees included Karmanya Chilkulwar (volleyball), Anjali Madavi (athletics), Siddhesh Satpute (kho-kho), Urvashi Saneshwar (softball), Harpreet Singh Randhawa (handball), Mangala Dhabale (kabaddi), Aditi Dhande (skating), Shraddha Bajaj (chess), Nandini Sahu (wrestling), Nishika Gokhe (badminton), Bharat Delikar (yogasana), Gunjan Mantri (basketball), Avani Rathod (gymnastics), and Aditri Payasi (swimming). Special honours: Vijay Dangre, Ravindra Tong, Umesh Naidu, and Young Muslim Football Club