Union Minister Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse applauds World Cup-winning kho kho teams
New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse met and congratulated both the men’s and women’s kho kho teams, who recently clinched the World Cup, here on Friday. The honourable Union Minister of State applauded the dominating manner in which both the teams clinched the glittering World Cup trophies. “It is such a momentous occasion for the country that both our men’s and women’s teams clinched the first-ever World Cup in kho kho, especially the dominating fashion in which we won gives me immense pride. This is our indigenous sport, the sport of our soil, our villages. Entire country celebrated the victory, even in distant parts. I want to congratulate Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) president (Sudhanshu) Mittal ji and his entire team for putting a lot of effort to help the game earn the much-required fame and create ripples internationally,” Smt. Khadse told the World Cup-winning team members. Pratik Waikar-led Indian men’s team defeated Nepal in the title clash while women’s team that was captained by Priyanka Ingle also clinched a win against the same opposition in the finale. The first-ever Kho Kho World Cup saw 23 countries across 6 continents featuring in the week-long tournament with 20 men’s and 19 women’s teams being a part of it. “Not only Maharashtra, where the sport originated, but other states also performed very well, which is very heartening to see. I would urge all the players to promote the sport in their states/districts/cities etc. You need to tell people in your region about your achievements so that more children get inspired to take up the sport. I would like to extend my best wishes to each player present here for more success in the future,” she said. Sports Authority of India (SAI) supported KKFI to organize a month-long national camp from December 10, 2024 to January 11, 2025 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at no cost. 60 men and 60 women from 27 states trained at the facility. KKFI president Sudhanshu Mittal praised the government for extending all kinds of support for the successful staging of the World Cup at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. “The Indian government has been very supportive towards indigenous sports like kho kho. Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and MoS Smt. Raksha Khadse supported us in every way possible that led to successful staging of the World Cup. We have already announced the staging of next World Cup in Birmingham after 4 years and would like to conduct the World Championship here in India, if the government allows us,” Mittal said. To this, Smt. Khadse assured the KKFI president that she will discuss the matter with the Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya. “I will discuss the idea given by Mittal ji with our honourable Sports Minister and we will surely extend all possible help to popularise and promote kho kho further,” she said. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government approved cash rewards of Rs 2.25 crore to each player from the state who participated in the Kho Kho World Cup along with a Class 1 job in the state government after persuasion from Smt. Khadse.
Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates Second Edition of Inclusion Conclave
Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the Second Edition of Inclusion Conclave organised by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), India in New Delhi today. Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Ms. Raksha Nikhil Khadse was also present on the occasion. Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Mandaviya said “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, India has made remarkable strides in sports. Our focus remains on providing quality training, developing inclusive infrastructure, and discovering talent from the grassroots. This holistic approach ensures that everyone, regardless of background or ability, has the chance to excel and contribute to India’s sporting success.” He highlighted India’s commitment to prioritise the promotion of sports by empowering the Divyang sportsperson, under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also underlined India’s strengthened role in anti-doping through international cooperation and enhanced capacities. During the conclave, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya also released the “NADA India’s Anti-Doping Guide” in Braille Script, breaking the barriers of exclusion in the anti-doping landscape. In her address, Ms. Raksha Nikhil Khadse highlighted India’s deep-rooted commitment to ensure that every individual, regardless of background, gender, age, or ability has the opportunity to participate and excel in sports and reaffirmed the commitment to inclusion, ethical practices, and anti-doping efforts. Mr Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities also addressed the gathering. Dr. Mayumi YaYa Yamamoto, Director, Asia/Oceania Office, WADA also joined the NADA India Inclusion Conclave virtually. UNESCO COP9 Bureau Chairperson Mr. Matar Bâ & its members and Mr. Neil Murrell, Chairperson of UNESCO Anti-Doping Convention’s Fund Approval Committee and its members graced the occasion. The Conclave featured engaging panel discussions on key topics like legal framework, technology, sport values, along with insightful reflections from our para-athletes, and an inclusive anti-doping workshop on significant topics which will help shape the future of inclusion in anti-doping. The conclave witnessed an overwhelming participation of over 500+ participants, serving as a vital platform for attendees to collaborate, share insights, and develop strategies for ensuring fair play and tailored anti-doping programs for all athletes. National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) India, successfully concluded its second edition of the Inclusion Conclave today, building upon the momentum of its maiden event.
