Nagpur, May 31: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the grand ‘Khasdar (MP) Sports Festival 2026’ in Nagpur on Sunday. The event aims to support young athletes and local sports clubs in the Vidarbha region, enhancing grassroots sports development at the national level.
Bollywood actor and fitness icon Sunil Shetty attended the ceremony as the chief guest. Gadkari praised Shetty, stating, “I am delighted that my friend Sunil Shetty, a popular actor in our film industry and an athlete, is inaugurating our sports festival. He is an ideal person, having studied sports throughout his life. At 65, he remains incredibly fit. It is inspiring to have such role models at our event. I would like to thank and congratulate him, as well as express my gratitude to all of you.”
Gadkari emphasized that the festival is more than just an event; it serves as a medium for the physical and mental development of youth. He noted that sports foster discipline, teamwork, and a healthy lifestyle. This festival is a significant step towards providing better facilities and platforms for the youth of Vidarbha. He stressed that sports development is an integral part of nation-building, and the government is continuously working in this direction.
During the inauguration, Sunil Shetty commended Gadkari’s extensive work ethic. He remarked, “When it comes to education, sports, infrastructure, or any work related to the country’s development, one name comes to mind: Nitinji Gadkari. Just recently, we attended an educational institution’s event in Mumbai, and the atmosphere was beautiful, right in front of the Gateway of India.”
Shetty shared his personal experience, stating, “Everything I have achieved in life is due to sports. I was the sports captain in school, which made me quite popular.”
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S.C.H/A.S
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