Nagpur: Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur will inaugurate the sixth edition of Khasdar Krida Mahotsav (KKM) on January 12 at 6 pm. The inaugural function will be held at Yeshwant Stadium in Dhantoli, Nagpur.
Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Chandrashekhar Bawankule and all MLAs of Nagpur will also grace the inaugural function. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will preside over.
Addressing a press conference, Sandip Joshi, Convenor of Khasdar Krida Mahotsav said that for the first time several sports events will be held at Vidarbha level. On the inaugural day, cross country and yuva daud will be held at 5 am from Kasturchand Park. “Of the 55 games that will be played at 65 venues of Nagpur in 2024, six sports will be staged at theVidarbha level,” informed convenor of the event and former Nagpur Mayor Sandip Joshi.
“A total of Rs 1.35 crore prize money will be distributed in the sixth season,” informed Joshi. “The six sports that will be held at Vidarbha-level include Cycling, Kho Kho, Athletics, Kabaddi, Badminton and Judo. All the other remaining sporting disciplines will be played for Nagpur district players and will be organised by various district sports associations,” added Joshi.
Athletics carries a prize money of Rs 7,95,900 and events will be held in open men and women, boys and girls U-12, U-14, U-16, U-18 age categories and for athletes above 35 years. The event will be held at Divisional Sports Complex, Mankapur from January 12. Kabaddi, carrying a prize money of Rs 5,58,000 will be played in boys and girls in the Junior, sub-junior and senior men and women categories at Divisional Sports Complex.
Badminton events (Prize money Rs 3,86,000) will be held in open men and women (singles, doubles and mixed doubles); singles boys and girls in the U-10; singles and doubles U-13, U-15, U-17; Veteran 35+, 45+ & 55+ at DNC College Hall from January 13 to 19. Judo (U-18, U-14, U-12 boys and girls) will be held at IDCPE College, Krida Square on Jan 13 and 14.
Similarly, Kho-Kho with a prize money of Rs 3,45,000 will be held in open men and women and U-14 boys and girls categories at the Divisional Sports Complex, from January 12 to 16. Cycling (prize money Rs 1,59,200) will be held in boys and girls U-12, U-15 and U-21 age categories at the Deekshabhoomi Square on January 21.
“All the players will be given an insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh each for a period of one year. To make the insurance process successful all the players in both the individual and team events need to register online and offline on or before the deadlines of respective sports. In addition, players and teams can register offline at the offices of KKM,” Joshi mentioned.
Facts and figures of KKM Season-6:
· Days – 17
· Games – 55
· Venues – 65
· Teams — 2,325
· Officials — 4,800
· Participants — 65,000
· Matches — 12,500
· Trophies — 1,100
· Medals — 12,300
· Total prize money — Rs 1.35 crore