The names of Dhruv Phukan and Rishavraj Phukan from Parijat GP of New Demow Assembly constituency, Chandan Lohar from Gohain Pukhuri GP, and Raj Raj from Rajabari GP have been widely discussed among sports enthusiasts in Sivasagar. Along with these individuals, many football players have enthralled the people of the State with their remarkable skills.
Krishna Chutia, a 12-year-old from Nepali Village in Dibrugarh, has made headlines after winning the U-14 age category competition at Khel Maharan 2.0, despite using a broken bicycle. Krishna’s cycling talent is being talked about across Assam.
A video showcasing his achievement was shared by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on social media, who praised Krishna’s perseverance, saying, “The statewide competition, Khel Maharan, was organized to provide an excellent platform for sporting talents. These stories of success testify that our plan is working. Krishna participated in Khel Maharan 2.0 with a broken bicycle, without pedals, and still secured first place in the U-14 competition at the gram panchayat level. Krishna is a shining example of mental resilience, hard work, and constant practice who succeed braving all obstacles,”
The Chief Minister also promised to give Krishna a new bicycle in recognition of his achievements. Khel Maharan 2.0 has proven to be an amazing platform for sporting talent, especially at the grassroots. This visionary endeavour was launched to nurture and showcase the State’s young athletes.
Under the Government of Assam’s initiative, Khel Maharan 1.0 also provided a similar platform, with football being in limelight. Many football talents have had the chance to excel, and some have even been elected for football clubs across the country. The initiative also supports sports such as volleyball, kabaddi, and athletics through excellence camps.
The first leg of Khel Maharan 2.0 began on November 13. Several new disciplines such as chess, road cycling (traditional cycling), and swimming have been included. The events are being held in various disciplines according to different age categories.
Till the filing of the report, around 73 lakh youth from Assam had registered to participate through the portal www.dsywassam.com with 33 lakh already showcasing their talents in various competitions(as on 29/11/24). Barpeta district has the highest number of registrations.
Kausar Jamil Hilaly, Secretary of the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, highlighted the success of Khel Maharan 1.0. He stated, “Following Khel Maharan 1.0, 612 talented youths received residential training under top national-level coaches across various sports. Six football talents from Khel Maharan have been selected to train at the Baichung Bhutia Football Academy. We are also in discussions regarding a proposal for a two-week training program in Spain for the winning team of Khel Maharan, under the guidance of F.C. Barcelona.”
Kausar Jamil Hilaly added, “For Khel Maharan 2.0, we have adjusted the age groups to align with national standards for senior and junior teams. This year, we have also included traditional sports like cycling, swimming, and chess.” Referring to the collaboration with sports associations, he said, “The gap between sports associations and government bodies has significantly reduced.”
Sanjoy Upadhyaya, Sports Officer for Sivasagar district, said, “There is tremendous enthusiasm for Khel Maharan 2.0 at the gram panchayat level in Sivasagar, where events are being held at 87 locations.” Upadhyaya added, “In the past, talents in tea garden areas and other backward regions lacked proper platforms. This gap has now been bridged.”
Contestants selected at the GP level are now preparing for the Assembly phase scheduled for December. District, zonal, and state-level competitions will follow thereafter.
