Khasdar Krida Mahotsav 2020 is underway in Nagpur. The third season of the multi-sport event began on January 12 in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Babita Phogat also attended the inauguration ceremony of Khasdar Krida Mahotsav 2020. Khasdar Krida Mahotsav 2020 will feature 38,000 athletes who will be competing in different activities like cricket, athletics to gymnastics, cycling, bodybuilding, swimming, chess, lawn tennis, archery, rifle shooting, taekwondo,, badminton, judo, table tennis, volleyball, kho kho and wrestling. Nitin Gadkari Says 1.5 Lakh People Die in 5 Lakh Accidents Every Year in India.

At the inauguration ceremony Gadkari, who was quoted by PTI, said, “If we want to build a country of our dreams, then we need to build good citizens. Sports help in building a good personality and a strong, patriotic generation.”

Khelo Nagpur Khelo is the tagline of Khasdar Krida Mahotsav 2020. Apart from Gadkari, Sunny Deol and Babita Phogat, actor Sharad Kelkar, Maharashtra sports minister Sunil Kedar, mayor Sandip Joshi, former ministers Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Parinay Fuke, MP Vikas Mahatme, MLA Krishna Khopde, MLA Vikas Kumbhare, Sudhakar Deshmukh, former MLA Milind Mane, city BJP president Pravin Datke, former minister Surekha Kumbhare and deputy mayor Manisha Kothe also were present at the inauguration ceremony. Sunny Deol 'Missing' Posters Seen in Pathankot After Locals Upset at BJP MP's 'Absence' from Gurdaspur.

Watch Opening Ceremony Video

Khasdar Krida Mahotsav, the brainchild of Gadkari, features competitions for different age categories like under-12, under-15 and under-18. The event, comprising of 32 games, will culminate on January 23 and will be held at different venues across Nagpur.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 16, 2020 07:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).