Officers, staff and family members of Raj Bhavan to actively participate
19 traditional games to be played over 20 days with 599 participants
Lucknow: Inspired by the vision of Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, the Traditional Sports Competition–2025 was formally inaugurated at the Raj Bhavan campus in Lucknow. The event aims to promote health, fitness and India’s rich traditional sports culture among officers, employees and their families residing and working within the Raj Bhavan premises.
The competition was inaugurated by Special Officer to the Governor (Additional Chief Secretary level) Dr Sudhir Mahadev Bobde, Special Officer Ashok Desai, Special Officer (Education) Dr Pankaj L. Jani, Special Secretary Shriprakash Gupta, Aide-de-Camp to the Governor Punit Dwivedi, and Special Secretary and Financial Controller Himani Chaudhary. The dignitaries marked the opening by releasing balloons into the sky along with children.
The Traditional Sports Competition–2025 will continue for 20 days and will feature a total of 19 different games. As many as 599 participants will take part in the event, including 529 men and 70 women. Officers, staff members of Raj Bhavan and their family members will actively participate in the competitions. The overall coordination of the event is being handled by Raj Bhavan Sports In-charge and PSO Jamal Ahmad Siddiqui.
On the opening day, Colour Ball competitions were organised for boys’ and girls’ categories. Additionally, a tug-of-war competition was held in the women’s category, featuring teams led by Aide-de-Camp Major Garima Yadav and Controller of Raj Bhavan Household Nidhi Pandey. Major Garima Yadav’s team emerged victorious in the women’s tug-of-war event.
It is noteworthy that, under the inspiration of the Governor, Raj Bhavan Lucknow regularly organises traditional sports competitions. The initiative seeks to preserve and promote traditional Indian games while encouraging a healthy, fit and active lifestyle among children, officers, employees and their families. The competition also helps inculcate discipline, team spirit, mutual cooperation, sportsmanship and the ability to accept both victory and defeat gracefully.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sudhir Mahadev Bobde said that this is the fifth edition of the Traditional Sports Competition being organised with the objective of promoting health, fitness and a positive sporting spirit, as envisioned by the Governor. He added that the event provides a valuable platform to showcase the hidden sporting talents of officers, employees and their family members. Extending his best wishes to all participants, he expressed confidence that the competition would be as successful as in previous years.
A large number of Raj Bhavan officials, staff members, their families and sports enthusiasts were present at the inaugural ceremony.
