Khel Maharan 3.0 launched in Guwahati; games across Assam from Nov 7

Assam formally launched the third edition of its statewide sports festival, Khel Maharan, in Guwahati on Friday, with competitions set to begin on November 7.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Sports Minister Biswajit Daimary attended the launch at the Damodar Dev International Auditorium in Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra. The tournament's logo, jersey, mascot and theme song were unveiled at the event.

Sontu, the golden langur

The mascot is called Sontu and is based on the golden langur, the rare primate found in western Assam. The Chief Minister said the name had been picked so people would feel a sense of familiarity with it. He said the logo was designed by young artist Shantanu Hazarika.

Sarma said the third edition would encourage emerging sporting talent from across the state, with competitions in eight disciplines.

A festival built on numbers

Khel Maharan is the state government's mass-participation sports drive, which takes competitions down to the village and ward level before moving the best performers up to district and state rounds. The idea is to give young athletes, especially in rural areas, a platform to be noticed.

Registration figures suggest strong interest again this year. Kamrup district alone recorded more than 2 lakh registrations for Khel Maharan 3.0, The News Mill reported on Thursday.

What happens next

With the launch done, district sports offices are expected to finalise venues and fixtures for the opening rounds ahead of November 7. Participants should follow announcements from their district sports officer and the state Sports and Youth Welfare department for schedules and eligibility rules for each discipline.

For many of the young people who take part in Khel Maharan, though, it is the closest they will get to a structured competition, and the state hopes it will widen the base from which future champions emerge.