Chennai/Sanand, Gujarat, 17th September 2026: Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal today inaugurated Khele Sanand Sports Utsav 2026, marking the launch of an 18-day mass Olympic sporting movement across all 105 villages of Sanand Taluka. The Sports Utsav will run from 17 September to 7 October 2026, taking organised sport to schools and communities across the taluka.
Organised by Vijayi Bharat Foundation (VBF) under its Khele Sanand initiative, the sporting movement will bring together 25,000+ students from 150+ schools, building towards a stronger culture of participation and opportunity at the grassroots level. The Sports Utsav was inaugurated at Sanskardham with a Grand Opening Ceremony attended by Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal, along with VBF Board members Jalaj Dani, Dhanraj Nathwani, Dilip Thaker and Durgesh Agarwal. Centred on the theme “Every Child. Every School. A Sporting Movement,” the initiative aims to bring structured sporting opportunities to schools and communities across Sanand, while creating a platform for talent identification and early sporting development.
The festival will feature 10 sporting disciplines, including Kabaddi, Softball Throw/ Kids Javelin Throw, Sprint, Cycling, Kho-Kho, Chess, Standing Broad Jump, Badminton, Volleyball and Tug of War, alongside a dedicated Sports Quiz. Students between the ages of 5 and 17 years will participate across U-8, U-11, U-14 and U-17 categories, with opportunities for both boys and girls.
Competitions will be conducted across participating schools through the sporting movement, before the top performers progress through knockout rounds leading to the Grand Finale at Sanskardham on 7 October. Speaking at the inauguration, Saina Nehwal, Olympic medallist, 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.” The initiative also brings together physical competition and sporting knowledge, with the Sports Quiz forming an integral part of the programme.
Through this model, children are encouraged to develop both physical fitness through sport and an understanding of sporting values, disciplines and the Olympic movement. Gagan Narang, Olympic medallist and Advisor, Vijayi Bharat Foundation, 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 Sports Utsav builds on VBF’s Khele Sanand initiative and seeks to establish a common sporting platform across the taluka, enabling children from different schools and villages to participate on a more level playing field. Results from the competitions will be digitally recorded and verified as students progress through the various stages of the sporting movement. Over the next 18 days, Sanand will become a living sporting ecosystem, with school grounds, classrooms and communities coming together around competition and participation.
More than 25,000 children will have the opportunity to run, jump, play, compete and learn. Khele Sanand Sports Utsav 2026 will culminate at the Grand Finale on 7 October 2026 About Vijayi Bharat Foundation: Vijayi Bharat Foundation (VBF) is committed to strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem by creating pathways for athletes to participate, develop and excel at the highest levels. Its vision is to establish a state-of-the-art Olympic Training Centre in India, creating a high-performance environment that supports India’s pursuit of Olympic excellence while serving as a training destination for international athletes. VBF’s work spans three key initiatives, High-Performance Centre, Community Sports and Khele Sanand.
The High-Performance Centre focuses on Judo, Archery, Shooting and Fencing, while Community Sports creates wider access to Badminton, Football, Equestrian, Table Tennis, Martial Arts, Shooting and Chess. Through Khele Sanand, VBF works at the grassroots across Kho-Kho, Kabaddi, Volleyball and Athletics, with a focus on participation, competition and talent identification. About Khele Sanand Project: Khele Sanand is a grassroots sports development initiative by Vijayi Bharat Foundation (VBF), launched in 2023 to promote sports and physical fitness among children and youth in Sanand Taluka. The project provides structured sports training, coaching, and competitive opportunities through village-level training clubs and schools. It encourages participation in Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Athletics, Volleyball, and other sports, fostering discipline, teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship. Through organised leagues, tournaments, talent identification, and community engagement, Khele Sanand aims to nurture sporting talent, develop grassroots infrastructure, and build a healthier, more active, and sports-oriented society in rural Gujarat.