Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today addressed the closing ceremony of the ‘Sansad Khel Mahotsav 2025’ in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. On this occasion, several dignitaries, including Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghavi, were present.

Addressing the programme, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that about five years ago, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had put forward the unique idea of organizing a ‘Sansad Khel Mahotsav’ every year. He said that today, in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, this third sports festival is being successfully completed. When Modi Ji presented this idea, perhaps no one but him knew how much strength and resolve were contained in this small concept. Shri Shah said that today, in more than 300 Lok Sabha constituencies across the country, on average over one and a half lakh students, youth, and senior citizens are participating in this Sansad Khel Mahotsav and making efforts to incorporate sports, fitness, and health into their lives. Through this initiative, numerous sporting talents across the country have received a strong platform, players have been inspired, and a powerful beginning has been made for talent search.

Shri Amit Shah said that when Modi Ji was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he started the ‘Khel Mahotsav Gujarat’. After becoming the Prime Minister of the country, he has encouraged every young person to play, inspired curiosity for sports, provided facilities, offered training, and motivated participation in competitions.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that sports hold great importance in a person’s life. Not becoming disheartened after losing and rising again to work harder—this is something no bookish knowledge can teach. He said that one should not quit after losing, but return to the field the next day with the passion to win—this is the quality that brings success in every sphere of life. Shri Shah said that after winning, one should not become arrogant; instead, placing a hand on a teammate’s shoulder and wishing them well to progress with sportsman spirit—this precious lesson also comes only from the sports field.

Shri Amit Shah said that the Sansad Khel Mahotsav in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency was organized in three phases: from 24 to 30 October at the rural and ward level, from 6 to 14 November at the assembly level, and from 21 November to 2 December at the Lok Sabha level. Shri Shah said he is pleased that a total of 1 lakh 57 thousand players from all seven assembly segments of the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency registered for the event. These included around 87 thousand male and 70 thousand female participants. He said that in the upcoming sports festival, the number of daughters should be higher than that of sons, and most winners should also be daughters. Union Home Minister said that out of these 1 lakh 57 thousand players, more than 8,500 emerged as winners, but the remaining over 1 lakh 48 thousand players will also return to the field with a determination to succeed, learning not to be disheartened by defeat. In their lives, this zeal and ambition will become the greatest sources of inspiration for progress.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that seven age categories were included in this Sansad Khel Mahotsav — Under-9, Under-11, Under-14, Under-17, Over-40, Over-50, and Over-60. People from all age groups participated enthusiastically. In Sanand alone, nearly 59,000 players took part. In athletics, badminton, chess, Mallakhamb, swimming, yogasana, kho-kho, kabaddi, and volleyball — more than 59,000 players in total participated with great enthusiasm. He said that the appeal Modi Ji had made to Members of Parliament has today become a guiding force for students, children, and youth across the country. Shri Shah said that if one wants to develop four qualities in life — discipline, team spirit, patience, and sportsman spirit — only sports can cultivate them. He said that through the Sansad Khel Mahotsav, talent is being identified, people are discovering their inner strength, awareness about the Fit India Movement is increasing, the Nasha-Mukt Bharat campaign is gaining momentum, and equal opportunities are being provided to every region and every age group. This is why the Sansad Khel Mahotsav has become extremely popular across the country today.

Union Home Minister said that the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, built at a cost of nearly ₹800 crore, has become an international-level sports complex where players receive world-class coaching and facilities. Many such sports complexes are being built across the country. He said that Gujarat has secured the hosting rights for the Commonwealth Games 2030. The people of Ahmedabad must now also be ready to welcome the Olympics in 2036. He said that the Police Games, the Commonwealth Games, and finally the Olympics — all these international competitions will take place in Gujarat and Ahmedabad. Shri Shah urged all athletes of Gujarat that when the Olympics are held in India, Gujarat should become the state that wins the highest number of medals. For this, athletes, coaches, and all sports institutions must begin preparations from today itself.

Shri Amit Shah said that through ‘Khelo Gujarat’, the Khel Mahakumbh, talent search programmes, sports schools, academies, and modern training centres, Gujarat has created the country’s largest sports movement in any single state. This has greatly benefited the athletes of the state. Union Home Minister said that under the leadership of Modi Ji, the Government of India has launched numerous schemes to promote sports. He said that in 2014, the budget for sports was only ₹800 crore, which has increased fivefold to around ₹4,000 crore in 2025. As a result of this, Indian athletes won 15 medals in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, 26 in 2018, and 22 in 2022. Similarly, in the Asian Games, India has now won 107 medals compared to the earlier 57. In the Para Asian Games, India won 111 medals instead of the previous 33. He expressed confidence that when the Olympics are held in India, India will surely rank among the top five nations in the medal tally.

Shri Amit Shah said that he wants to inspire athletes to take a pledge to stay away from addictions throughout their lives. All players should take a vow that they will not consume any intoxicants. He said that sports naturally make us free from addiction. Shri Shah appealed to every athlete to take a pledge to plant at least five saplings near their home, in their school, on the playground, or in their village/town, and to take care of them. He said that in the coming month, they are going to give new momentum to the ‘Green Gandhinagar Movement’

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex has been built in the name of the great revolutionary Veer Savarkar Ji. In the freedom struggle, Savarkar Ji was among the most ardent patriots and revolutionaries. This sports complex named after him reminds us every day that just as Savarkar Ji dedicated everything for the nation, we too should keep the spirit of patriotism alive within ourselves. He said that every player who comes here should draw inspiration for patriotism from Savarkar Ji and embody it in their own life.

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