The eighth edition of the Khasdar Krida Mahotsav is set to begin on May 31, though this year’s festival will be much smaller than usual. While last year featured 65 different sports, the upcoming event has been scaled down to just 18 disciplines. Convenor Sandip Joshi explained during a press conference that the committee decided to curtail the schedule due to the intense summer heat in the region. He assured fans and athletes that the full lineup of events will return in January 2027.
The sports festival will kick off with a Marathon on the morning of May 31, with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari serving as the chief guest. To protect participants from the scorching daytime temperatures, all other competitions will take place in the evenings after 6 pm. The Marathon itself is scheduled for an early 5:30 am start. Additionally, participation this year is restricted specifically to players from Nagpur city.
Over the course of a week, athletes will compete in various sports including wrestling, kho-kho, badminton, athletics, kabaddi, swimming, basketball, and chess. The lineup also includes carrom, powerlifting, volleyball, yogasana, gymnastics, skating, handball, table tennis, and softball. A total prize pool of Rs 57.63 lakh has been designated for the winners across these categories.
The event is being organized under the leadership of Sandip Joshi along with a large committee of sports officials and experts, including Dr. Piyush Ambulkar, Padmakar Charmode, and several others. Their collective guidance aims to ensure the competitions run smoothly despite the seasonal challenges, maintaining the spirit of the Mahotsav until the full-scale event returns next year.
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