Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that sports competitions, along with refining the talent of students, develop discipline, unity, cooperation, and national spirit among them. Both victory and defeat hold significance on the sports field. Victory gives enthusiasm to move forward, while defeat provides inspiration to overcome shortcomings and perform better.
The Chief Minister attended the closing ceremony of the 37th All India Sports Festival-2026 organized by Vidya Bharati in Ghaziabad on Wednesday. He honored winning players who performed exceptionally in various competitions and encouraged all participants.
Dhami said that the participation of players hailing from different states across the country makes this event special. The gathering of players from the border regions of the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, and from the western borders to the Northeast on a single platform, offers a glimpse of a mini-India. Players with different languages, attire, and cultures also get an opportunity to understand each other’s traditions here.
The Chief Minister said that Vidya Bharati is working to strengthen culture, discipline, and the spirit of nation-building alongside education. The journey of the institution, which began with the establishment of the first Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Gorakhpur in 1952, has reached various parts of the country today. The institution’s motto, ‘Sa Vidya Ya Vimuktaye’, reflects the broader purpose of education. He praised the institution’s efforts in spreading education across border, rural, tribal, and underprivileged areas.
Dhami stated that in Indian culture, physical development is given equal importance alongside education. A healthy body is the foundation for fulfilling life’s duties and goals. Through sports, qualities such as courage, patience, confidence, leadership ability, and collective cooperation develop in students. The disciplined routine of the sports festival also teaches students time management, self-reliance, and collective responsibility.
Citing the example of Nishad Kumar, silver medalist in the Paris Paralympics-2024, the Chief Minister said that significant achievements can be attained through firm resolve, continuous practice, and hard work. He expressed confidence that the players participating in the festival will also bring laurels to the nation at the national and international levels in the future.
He noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, initiatives like Khelo India and Fit India campaigns have been launched to promote sports culture. These have increased awareness regarding sports and physical health among the youth. Sports talent from ordinary families is also getting better opportunities to showcase their abilities.
Dhami stated that the Uttarakhand government is also expanding sports facilities and resources in the state. Better training and opportunities to advance are being made available to athletes. The government’s effort is to ensure that talent from remote areas gets a chance to demonstrate its capabilities, enabling the state’s youth to build a better future in sports.
Congratulating the winning players, the Chief Minister wished all participants a bright future. He praised the office bearers, teachers, trainers, and workers of Vidya Bharati for the successful conduct of the event.
Mahesh Gupta, Vidya Bharati All India Shiksha Sansthan General Secretary Deshraj Sharma, All India Joint Organization Secretary Yatindra Kumar Sharma, All India Sports Department Convener Muktesh Bagesha, Dr. Vijay Pal, along with office bearers of the institution, teachers, and other dignitaries, were present at the event.
