The Government of NCT of Delhi has announced Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan as the brand ambassador of the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh, a landmark grassroots sports initiative aimed at expanding participation and strengthening talent identification across the national capital.
The appointment, made through the Directorate of Education and Sports, reflects the Delhi government’s broader vision to build a sustainable and inclusive sports ecosystem rooted at the school and community level.
The inaugural edition of the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh will commence from February 13 and will be staged across 16 venues covering all 12 districts of Delhi. Designed as a large-scale multi-sport festival, the event will feature competitions in athletics, basketball, football, kabaddi, wrestling, squash and volleyball. The focus will remain firmly on mass participation, structured competition and early-stage talent discovery.
Speaking on the announcement, Ashish Sood, Minister of Education and Sports, Government of Delhi, said, “The Delhi Khel Mahakumbh is envisioned as a transformative platform for talent and sports development. Shikhar Dhawan’s association as Brand Ambassador brings immense credibility and inspiration to the initiative, and integrates perfectly with our objective of grassroots development, encouraging widespread participation and identifying future sporting talent.”
Dhawan said, “I feel extremely grateful and would like to thank the Government of Delhi and the Directorate of Education and Sports for this honour. The Delhi Khel Mahakumbh is a commendable step towards the growth of the sport in the region, which is brimming with talent and seeking the right opportunity and exposure. As a professional athlete myself, I understand the importance of getting a platform to showcase your talent, and through my venture, Da One Sports, I have been strongly committed towards creating a pathway and ecosystem for youngsters to achieve their dreams. Delhi has a rich legacy in Indian sports, and I hope that through this association, I am able to inspire budding talent to believe in themselves and participate, contributing towards our vision of making Delhi the sports capital of the country.”
Anshita Gupta, CEO, Da One Group, said, “The Delhi Khel Mahakumbh is a landmark initiative by the Government of Delhi and the Directorate of Education and Sports, to strengthen the sports ecosystem of the state. It fills me with immense pride to see that, at Da One Sports, we are aligned with the government’s vision. We have always believed in providing structured talent development and high-performance avenues to create seamless pathways for aspiring athletes. We remain committed towards providing the optimum opportunity, exposure and support for emerging talent in the state.”
Positioned as more than a standalone tournament, the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh forms a key pillar of the Delhi government’s long-term ambition to establish the capital as a leading hub for grassroots and youth sport. By combining large-scale participation, structured competition and high-profile advocacy, the initiative aims to create clearer and more accessible pathways for athletes to advance into state and national programmes.
With Shikhar Dhawan at the forefront as brand ambassador, the Delhi government expects the Mahakumbh to gain wider visibility and inspire a new generation of athletes to pursue sport with purpose and ambition.
