Lucknow, April 13 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday welcomed the increased participation of women in sports, hoping that the MP Khel Mahakumbh organised here will further strengthen the sporting culture in Lucknow and across Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing the sportspersons, Rajnath Singh said, “Lucknow has always been known for its rich sporting culture. It is with the very objective of further developing this sporting culture here that the MP Khel Mahakumbh has been initiated.”

“My effort is to further expand the sporting facilities in Lucknow city,” he said.

The Defence Minister said today that modern sports infrastructure is also being developed near villages. Even in the far-flung areas of the country, better grounds, modern stadiums, and modern training facilities are now being built.

“In UP as well, thousands of crores of rupees are being spent on sports projects,” he said.

He said it is encouraging to see the increased participation of daughters in sports through the ‘Khelo India’ programme. The ‘Khelo India Women’s League is being held in many cities of the country, and the participation of women in these is quite high.”

In a message on X, the Defence Minister and Lucknow MP said, “Participated in the closing ceremony of the ‘MP Khel Mahakumbh’ organized in Lucknow. Inspired by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, this MP Khel Mahakumbh was held for the second consecutive year, in which thousands of youth participated in various events.”

Under the Khelo India campaign, our government has already spent nearly Rs five thousand crore on sports infrastructure, he said, adding, “Due to the increasing sports infrastructure, it has now become easier for more players to connect with sports.”

He said over the past decade, a new era of sports has begun in India. This era is not limited merely to establishing India as a major sporting power but also marks a new phase of societal empowerment through sports, he said.

“Sports are being taught as a subject in our National Education Policy. The establishment of the country’s first National Sports University will provide further assistance in this regard,” he said on X.

“Khelo India has also restored the prestige of India’s traditional sports. The government is also providing scholarships to promote various disciplines such as Gatka, Mallakhamb, Thang-Ta, Kalaripayattu, and Yogasan,” he said.

–IANS

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