Gandhinagar: Two athletes from Gujarat have achieved a remarkable feat by securing bronze medals at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, according to a statement released by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on Tuesday. Asha Thakor from Mehsana and Pinkal Chauhan from Dahod, both with intellectual disabilities, excelled in floorball, earning accolades for their state and country.
Floorball, a dynamic indoor game akin to hockey, involves players using carbon fiber sticks to maneuver a lightweight plastic ball. Held from March 8 to 15, 2025, the Special Olympics World Winter Games featured 30 Indian competitors across multiple disciplines, with Thakor and Chauhan standing out for their stellar performance in this sport.
The athletes’ success is credited to Special Olympics Bharat-Gujarat, the state’s designated agency under the Sports Authority of Gujarat. Since 2010, the Sports Authority has organized the Special Khel Mahakumbh, a unique event tailored for athletes with disabilities. This competition has proven to be a vital stepping stone, enabling standout performers like Thakor and Chauhan to advance to national contests and ultimately represent India at the biennial World Games.
The broader Khel Mahakumbh, initiated in 2010 by then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi now India’s Prime Minister aims to boost sports awareness, encourage fitness, and build a thriving athletic culture among Gujarat’s youth. Held yearly, the event spans village, district, and state levels. From an initial turnout of 16.50 lakh participants in 2010, the 2024-25 iteration, dubbed Khel Mahakumbh 3.0, saw participation soar to an impressive 71,30,834 athletes, underscoring its growing impact.
Under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat rolled out the Sports Policy 2022-2027 to further enhance the state’s sports framework. This strategic plan seeks to establish Gujarat as a leading sports hub, opening doors for aspiring athletes to chase their ambitions.
Over the past two decades, Gujarat’s young athletes have shown significant improvement in skill and competitiveness, a reflection of the state government’s steadfast dedication to sports development. Key programs launched under Modi’s tenure, including Khel Mahakumbh, Shaktidoot Yojana, and DLSS, have provided structured training, financial assistance, and recognition, fueling this progress.
The state’s investment in sports has also grown dramatically. In 2002, Gujarat allocated Rs 2.5 crore to its sports budget; today, that figure exceeds Rs 352 crore a 141-fold increase, as noted in the CMO release.