Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 2 Jan: Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi today formally inaugurated the Assembly-level MLA Championship Trophy 2025–26 at Gorkha Military Inter College, Garhi Cantt. The event is being organised by the Youth Welfare and Provincial Guard Department, in collaboration with the Education and Sports Departments. The inauguration was carried out by hoisting the championship trophy flag. On this occasion, the minister interacted with the players and encouraged them. He also awarded prizes to the winners of the 800-metre race.
Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi said that the Sports Mahakumbh-2025 competitions have been continuously organised for the past seven years by the Youth Welfare and Provincial Guard Department with the cooperation of the Education and Sports Departments. He added that this year these competitions are being organised under the name of Chief Minister Championship Trophy, which is a commendable initiative.
The minister stated that instead of block-level competitions, MLA Championship Trophy competitions are now being organised at the Assembly level, while district-level competitions are being held under the name of the MP Championship Trophy. He said that in the Mussoorie Assembly constituency, sports competitions for boys and girls in the Under-14 and Under-19 age groups are being organised directly at the Assembly level. These include athletics, kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball, pitthu, and murga jhapat (traditional rural games).
Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi said that the winners at the MLA level will go on to participate in MP-level sports competitions. He explained that the primary objectives of these sports events organised by the Youth Welfare Department are to create a sporting environment in the state, promote rural sports, bring students from e-culture to p-culture—that is, from electronic media to the playground—develop national and international level athletes, reconnect school dropout players with sports, and promote awareness about health enhancement.
He emphasised that sports and yogic activities are extremely important for a healthy body and a successful life, as physical and mental development is possible only through sports. Wishing all the players a bright future, he motivated them to continue progressing in the field of sports.
On this occasion, Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi also extended New Year greetings and best wishes to all present.
Among those present at the event were BJP Mandal President Rajeev Gurung, Manoj Kshetri, Jyoti Kotiya, Laxman Singh Rawat, Vishnu Prasad Gupta, Sarika Khatri, Dheeraj Thakur, Pradeep Sharma, Youth Welfare Officer Imran, and several others.
