- LOVE ALL, SANAND! Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal inaugurates Khele Sanand Sports Utsav 2026, putting participation and opportunity at the heart of grassroots sport.
- FROM 105 VILLAGES TO ONE SPORTING MOVEMENT: More than 25,000 students from 150+ schools set to compete across Sanand Taluka.
- GAGAN NARANG’S CALL: Take sport beyond traditional centres of competition and make it a natural part of growing up.
- 10 DISCIPLINES, ONE COMMON PLATFORM: From kabaddi, cycling and badminton to chess, athletics and a dedicated Sports Quiz.
- THE ROAD TO OCTOBER 7: School-level competitions and knockout rounds lead to the Grand Finale at Sanskardham.
NE SPORTS BUREAU
SANAND, AHMEDABAD, SEPT 17
From the first serve to the final sprint, Sanand is preparing to turn the spirit of sport into a shared community experience. With Olympic medallists Saina Nehwal and Gagan Narang bringing their inspiration to the playground, more than 25,000 students from over 150 schools across all 105 villages of Sanand Taluka are set to become part of an 18-day sporting movement that places participation, opportunity and the joy of competition at its heart.
Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal on Thursday inaugurated Khele Sanand Sports Utsav 2026 at Sanskardham, launching the festival that will run from September 17 to October 7. Organised by Vijayi Bharat Foundation (VBF) under its Khele Sanand initiative, the programme seeks to make organised sport accessible to children across schools and communities, while creating pathways for talent identification and early sporting development.
The inaugural Grand Opening Ceremony was attended by Saina Nehwal, Olympic medallist and VBF Advisor Gagan Narang, and VBF Board members Jalaj Dani, Dhanraj Nathwani, Dilip Thaker and Durgesh Agarwal.
Anchored in the theme “Every Child. Every School. A Sporting Movement,” the festival aims to bring children from different schools and villages onto a common sporting platform, encouraging them to participate, compete and discover their potential.
Saina Nehwal: Impact goes beyond competition
Speaking at the inauguration, Saina Nehwal said: “This is a great initiative because it creates an opportunity for children to experience organised sport at a very young age and within their own schools and communities. When an entire taluka comes together to create sporting opportunities for its children, the impact goes beyond competition. It can build confidence, encourage participation and help create a stronger sporting culture from the grassroots. I am very happy to be here as Khele Sanand Sports Utsav begins this journey.”
Her message underlined the importance of making sport part of children’s everyday lives, rather than limiting sporting opportunities to established centres or a select group of athletes.
Gagan Narang: Take sport beyond traditional centres
Gagan Narang, Olympic medallist and Advisor to Vijayi Bharat Foundation, emphasised the importance of widening access to sport and nurturing participation at the community level.
He said: “India’s sporting future will be shaped by how effectively we take sport beyond the traditional centres of competition and create opportunities for children across every community. What makes Khele Sanand Sports Utsav significant is its scale and its grassroots approach. 105 villages, more than 150+ schools and thousands of children participate within one common sporting framework. When children get an opportunity to compete at this scale, we are not only identifying sporting talent; we are helping build a culture where sport becomes a natural part of growing up. Initiatives like these can play an important role in building the foundation for a stronger sporting India.”
The takeaway from Narang’s message: India’s sporting future begins by taking opportunities to children wherever they live—not merely expecting talent to find its way to established sporting centres.
Ten disciplines, one inclusive sporting platform
The festival will feature 10 sporting disciplines, alongside a dedicated Sports Quiz, combining physical competition with sporting knowledge.
The disciplines include:
- Kabaddi
- Softball Throw / Kids Javelin Throw
- Sprint
- Cycling
- Kho-Kho
- Chess
- Standing Broad Jump
- Badminton
- Volleyball
- Tug of War
The Sports Quiz will complement the physical events by introducing children to sporting values, disciplines and the Olympic movement.
Students aged 5 to 17 years will participate in four age categories — U-8, U-11, U-14 and U-17 — with opportunities for both boys and girls.
Competitions will be conducted across participating schools, with leading performers advancing through knockout rounds towards the Grand Finale at Sanskardham on October 7.
From school playgrounds to a taluka-wide sporting ecosystem
Building on VBF’s Khele Sanand initiative, the Sports Utsav seeks to establish a common platform that enables children from different schools and villages to participate in organised competition.
Results will be digitally recorded and verified as students progress through the various stages of the festival.
Over the next 18 days, school grounds, classrooms and communities across Sanand will come together around sport. The initiative offers thousands of children an opportunity to run, jump, play, compete and learn—while encouraging a culture in which sporting participation becomes an integral part of growing up.
As Khele Sanand Sports Utsav 2026 moves towards its October 7 Grand Finale, its larger aspiration reaches beyond medals and podiums: to bring sporting opportunities closer to children and make every school, every village and every child part of the game.
