New Delhi, Former India cricketer 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 the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The multi-sport event has been conceived as a grassroots platform aimed at expanding sports participation and identifying talent across the capital. It is designed to bring together school- and community-level athletes, providing structured opportunities for competition, exposure and progression toward professional sporting pathways.
Delhi Education and Sports Minister Ashish Sood said the initiative is intended to strengthen the sports ecosystem in the city. He said Dhawan’s association with the event adds credibility and aligns with the government’s objective of encouraging wider participation and identifying future talent at the grassroots level.
Dhawan said he was grateful for the appointment and described the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh as an important step toward providing young athletes with opportunities and exposure. He said access to competitive platforms plays a critical role in athlete development and added that Delhi has a strong sporting legacy.
Anshita Gupta, chief executive officer of Da One Group, said the initiative supports the goal of creating structured talent development pathways and aligns with the organisation’s focus on high-performance sports ecosystems.
Through his venture Da One Sports, Dhawan has been involved in developing structured talent and high-performance pathways for athletes, while the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation focuses on education and digital empowerment initiatives.
The inaugural Delhi Khel Mahakumbh is scheduled to begin on February 13 and will be held across 16 venues in the capital. Thousands of young athletes from all 12 districts of Delhi are expected to participate in sports including basketball, football, athletics, kabaddi, wrestling, squash and volleyball.
