Gandhinagar: The 2026 edition of Khel Mahakumbh was launched by CM Bhupendra Patel and DyCM Harsh Sanghavi from Vadodara on Friday. A record 76 lakh youth are participating in this year’s edition of Khel Mahakumbh.Speaking at the event, Patel said that over the past 25 years, there is a marked change in the state’s sports culture. “Gujarat is hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the prospects of the state hosting the 2036 Olympic Games is bright. This presents a huge opportunity for Gujarat,” he remarked.Patel said that if the state is able to prepare athletes who are 10 to 12 years now, Gujarat will be in a position to showcase world-class athletes by 2036. “PM Modi has said that by the 2036 Olympic Games, Indian athletes should qualify in Olympic events in which India does not qualify. We will take up this challenge,” he said.Sanghavi said that a number of athletes from Gujarat have excelled at national and international events and Khel Mahakumbh has played a major role in this achievement. “We will host a historic Commonwealth Games in 2030 under the leadership of CM Bhupendra Patel,” Sanghavi remarked.
