Prize Distribution Ceremony of the 23rd Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Cup State-Level Kabaddi Tournament Held in the Presence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar

Baramati : Maharashtra must remain at the forefront in the field of sports, and athletes should be rewarded generously for their efforts. To address issues related to sports development, the state government is making positive efforts, said Deputy Chief Minister and Guardian Minister of the district, Ajit Pawar.

In the finals of the men’s and women’s divisions, Mumbai City East emerged victorious in the men’s category, while Pune Rural District secured victory in the women’s category. The prize distribution ceremony for the winners was held at the Railway Ground and was presided over by Deputy Chief Minister Pawar.

Dignitaries Present:
The event was attended by Chief Executive Officer of the District Council Gajanan Patil, Additional District Magistrate Suhas Mapari, Additional Superintendent of Police Ganesh Biradar, Sub-Divisional Officer Vaibhav Nawadkar, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services Sudhir More, Deputy Director Yuvraj Naik, District Sports Officer Mahadev Kasgavade, and Taluka Sports Officer Mahesh Chawale.

Ajit Pawar’s Address:
Pawar emphasized that kabaddi, being a traditional sport, will be promoted for its comprehensive development. He highlighted the importance of sportsmanship, stating that every competition has victories and defeats, and players must accept defeat respectfully. He advised winning teams to stay grounded and encouraged losing teams to prepare with renewed enthusiasm for future competitions. He also urged the audience to appreciate the performance of losing teams.

The Deputy Chief Minister announced significant government support for sports development:

• ₹1 crore will be allocated next year for organizing state-level tournaments, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Cup Kabaddi Tournament, the Late Bhai Nerurkar Cup Kho-Kho Tournament, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Cup Volleyball Tournament, and the Late Khashaba Jadhav Cup Wrestling Tournament.
• He assured that these decisions would benefit players and sports enthusiasts alike.

Ajit Pawar expressed pride in Baramati hosting various cultural and sports events, allowing residents to enjoy such programs. He applauded the kabaddi players for delivering thrilling performances and thanked everyone for supporting competitions worthy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy.

Support for Kabaddi Development:
On behalf of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, a cheque of ₹95 lakh was presented to the Maharashtra State Kabaddi Association for the development of kabaddi.

The ceremony was attended by Baburao Chandore, General Secretary of the Maharashtra State Kabaddi Association; Arjuna awardee Shantaram Jadhav; Shakuntala Khatavkar; Mayaji Akre; Vidhyadhar Anaskar, Administrator of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank; Sambhaji Holkar, Director of Pune District Central Cooperative Bank; officials from the state and district kabaddi associations; players; and sports enthusiasts.

The event began with an introductory speech by Baburao Chandore, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Mahadev Kasgavade.