Youth icon and Arjuna Awardee Shikhar Dhawan has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador of the inaugural Delhi Khel Mahakumbh, an initiative of the Directorate of Education and Sports, Government of NCT of Delhi. The large-scale sporting initiative is aimed at strengthening grassroots sports participation and talent identification across the national capital.
One of India’s most recognisable sports figures, Dhawan has long been a source of inspiration for young athletes across the country. Known for his leadership persona and continued commitment to nurturing emerging talent, he continues to play an influential role in shaping India’s sporting aspirations beyond his playing career through his venture, Da One Sports.
Conceived as a comprehensive multi-sport platform, the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh will bring together school- and community-level athletes, providing them with structured opportunities to compete, gain exposure, and take the first steps towards professional sporting pathways. The initiative underlines the Government of Delhi’s commitment to promoting sport as a key pillar of youth development and education.
Speaking on the occasion, 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.”
Expressing his gratitude, Shikhar 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 sports capital of the country.”
Echoing similar sentiments, 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.”
Through Da One Sports, Dhawan has been actively focused on building structured talent development and high-performance pathways for athletes. In parallel, the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation works towards advancing education and digital empowerment, particularly for children from underserved communities, reflecting a holistic approach to youth development through sport and learning.
The inaugural edition of the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh will commence on February 13 and will be hosted across 16 venues in the capital. Thousands of young athletes from all 12 districts of Delhi are expected to participate, competing in sports including basketball, football, athletics, kabaddi, wrestling, squash, and volleyball.
