As India celebrates National Sports Day on August 29, the Gujarat government has announced district and taluka-level sporting events to mark the occasion.
This year, the country will observe National Sports Day on an unprecedented scale, with the Centre launching a three-day nationwide programme from August 29 to 31 in honour of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
The celebrations, themed around slogans such as “Ek Ghanta Khel Ke Maidan Mein” (One hour in the sports field) and “Har Gali Har Maidan, Khele Sara Hindustan” (Every street, every field, the whole of India plays), aim to combine enthusiasm for sports with messages of fitness and national unity.
In Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will lead the statewide observance. District administrations have been directed to organise major sporting activities, with nodal officers appointed to coordinate events at both district and taluka levels. VIPs and prominent athletes are expected to participate.
The first day, August 29, will feature district-level events across the state, with schools, colleges, and universities paying tribute to Major Dhyan Chand. Students will take the Fit India Pledge and engage in competitions, seminars, poster-making, and discussions on physical and mental well-being. Registration for Khel Mahakumbh 2025 will also be launched on the same day.
On August 30, the focus will shift to the police department, with fitness activities and district-level games organised at police headquarters. Other state departments will also take part. The final day, August 31, will feature the popular “Sunday on Cycle” initiative in district headquarters and municipalities across the state, promoting the message of a “Healthy Gujarat, Obesity-Free Gujarat.”
The Gujarat government has engaged multiple departments — including Sports, Education, Police, Urban Development, Panchayats, and NGOs — to ensure mass participation.
Officials said the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Fit India Movement, launched in 2019, which seeks to build a culture of fitness and sports across the country.
Gujarat has rapidly emerged as one of India’s leading states in sports infrastructure, with world-class facilities ranging from the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad — the largest cricket stadium in the world — to modern complexes in cities like Gandhinagar, Rajkot, and Vadodara.
The state has invested heavily in multi-sport arenas, indoor stadiums, swimming complexes, and training academies for athletics, hockey, wrestling, and more. N
The development of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave and events like the National Games 2022 have further boosted Gujarat’s status as a sporting hub. Grassroots programmes and upcoming facilities are also aimed at nurturing talent across districts.
IANS