The Union Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, inaugurated the 4-day Sansad Khel Mahakumbh at the K.D. Singh Babu stadium in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on 19 April 2025. The Khel Mahakumbh will be held from April 19 to 22, 2025, in Lucknow.
During the inaugural ceremony, Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak and other dignitaries were also present.
A demonstration of indigenous sports, Kalaripayattu, Yoga, and Mallakhamba, were also performed during the inaugural ceremony.
Two years ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the Parliamentarians (Sansad) to organise sports events in their constituencies to popularise sports at the grassroots level. Defence Minister Rajanath Singh organised the Sansad Khel Mahakumbh in Lucknow. Rajnath Singh represents the Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency.
During the inaugural ceremony, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh honoured 10 senior athletes and five coaches from the city who had represented the country in the Olympics and other international events. The minister also honoured five sports management professionals of the city.
Approximately 2,500 sportspeople are participating in the four-day sporting event. They will compete in eight events- Athletics, Kabaddi, Basketball, Volleyball, Football, Hockey, Boxing and Taekwondo.
The events will be held in the junior and senior categories.
Students of classes 9-12 are participating in the junior category, while the senior category is for students of degree colleges and universities.
The final 2500 sportspersons were selected out of the initial 10,000 players who registered for the Sansad Khel Mahakumbh.
The Lucknow municipal corporation area was divided into 9 zones, and qualification events were held to select the final 2500 participants.
The winners will be honoured with a cash prize of Rs eight lakhs.