Pune: In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call of “Fit Yuva for Viksit Bharat,” Pune is set to host its first ‘MP Sports Festival’ from November 2 to 16, 2025, an initiative led by Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol. The 15-day citywide event will feature 35 different sports competitions held at various venues, in collaboration with local sports associations.
Chief coordinator and Chhatrapati Award winner Manoj Erande said, “The festival aims to provide a platform not just for professional athletes but also for senior citizens, differently-abled participants, and ordinary citizens to showcase their sporting skills. The event will feature both traditional Indian and Olympic sports, with team and individual categories.”
Competitions will include archery, athletics, badminton, swimming, basketball, bodybuilding, boxing, carrom, chess, cycling, cricket, football, gymnastics, hockey, judo, kabaddi, kho-kho, mallakhamb, pickleball, roll ball, shooting, skating, softball, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, wall climbing, water polo, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, yoga, and squash. Special athletics events will be organized for differently-abled participants and carrom tournaments for senior citizens.
The matches will be held at Sanas Ground, Tilak Tank Ground, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Balewadi Sports Complex, SP College, Maharashtra Mandal, Deccan Gymkhana, and Kharadi, among other venues. Organizers expect 20,000–25,000 participants across all events. Players can register through their respective sports associations, while additional information is available from coordinator Manoj Erande (9822045101).
‘Festival of Sports’ after Diwali
Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol said, “Since the announcement of the MP Sports Festival on National Sports Day, the response from Pune’s youth and sports lovers has been overwhelming. After Diwali’s festival of lights, the city will now celebrate a festival of sports. This initiative will help identify and nurture young sporting talent that could one day bring Olympic glory to India.”
