Module 16 • National Games & Sports Reforms2026-05-2512 min read
38th National Games Uttarakhand 2025, Mallakhamb Dominance & Youth Sports Reforms
Target Exam: MPPSC State Services & Scientific Officer•Official Sources: Madhya Pradesh State Gazettes, Budget & Official ReleasesMadhya Pradesh State Gazettes, Budget & Official Releases
1. 38th National Games (Uttarakhand 2025): Madhya Pradesh's Podium Finish
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Event & Host: The 38th National Games were hosted by Uttarakhand across Dehradun, Haridwar, Haldwani, Rudrapur, and Rishikesh.
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Madhya Pradesh's Historic Medal Tally:
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Final Standing: Madhya Pradesh secured 3rd rank overall among states on the national medal leaderboard.
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Total Medals: 82 medals, comprising 33 Gold, 25 Silver, and 24 Bronze.
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MP showcased nation-leading dominance in its indigenous martial traditions, athletics, shooting, water sports (kayaking, canoeing, rowing), and equestrian disciplines.
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Star Individual Feats:
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Deva Meena (Pole Vault): Created a sensational National Record of 5.32 metres in men's pole vault, clinching the Gold medal and shattering the previous national mark.
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Athletics Academy Bhopal: Athletes trained at the T.T. Nagar Stadium sports science complex captured multiple sprint and jumps medals.
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Water Sports Dominance: MP Water Sports Academy at Lower Lake, Bhopal, bagged top honors across K-1, K-2 kayaking, and C-1 canoeing events.
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Shooting Excellence: World-class shooters from the MP State Shooting Academy (Goregaon, Bhopal) continued their international-standard marksmanship.
2. Mallakhamb: Madhya Pradesh's State Sport Dominates the National Arena
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Constitutional & State Status: Declared as the official State Sport of Madhya Pradesh on 9 April 2013.
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Sweep at the 38th National Games:
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MP won 12 medals in Mallakhamb: 7 Gold, 3 Silver, and 2 Bronze.
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Out of the 9 Gold medals contested across Pole Mallakhamb, Rope Mallakhamb, and Hanging Mallakhamb, MP captured 7 Gold medals.
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Both Men's and Women's teams won the Team Championship Gold Medals, confirming MP's unchallenged status as the cradle of Mallakhamb.
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Institutional Support & Training Centers:
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Ujjain Mallakhamb Academy: The apex center of excellence nurturing national and international gymnasts on teak poles and cotton ropes.
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Prabhash Joshi Award: Established in 2013 by the MP Government, carrying a cash award of ₹2 lakh and citation, dedicated exclusively to excellence in Mallakhamb.
3. Institutional Sports Infrastructure & State Academies
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MP State Sports Academies Network (18 World-Class Academies):
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Shooting Academy (Bhopal): 50m, 25m, and 10m electronic target ranges; produced Olympians such as Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar and Chinki Yadav.
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Equestrian Academy (Bhopal): India's first state-run equestrian academy with international dressage and jumping arenas.
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Water Sports Academy (Bhopal, Lower Lake): Premier center for sailing, rowing, kayaking, and canoeing.
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Martial Arts Academy (Bhopal): Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, and Wushu.
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Badminton Academy (Gwalior): Elite training hub with international coaches.
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Women's Hockey Academy (Gwalior) & Men's Hockey Academy (Bhopal): Direct feeder pipeline for India's national hockey squads.
4. Youth Empowerment & Grassroots Sports Schemes (2025–26)
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Fit India Club Launch (19 January 2025):
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The state's first dedicated Fit India Club was inaugurated in Bhopal on 19 January 2025 to promote daily physical activity, fitness assessments, and community calisthenics.
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Khelo Badho Campaign 2025:
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A statewide grassroots sports mobilization drive conducted across all 55 districts to identify raw athletic talent in panchayats and municipal wards.
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Mera Yuva MP Portal:
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A unified digital platform integrating sports registrations, scholarship disbursements (Vikram, Eklavya, Vishwamitra awards), infrastructure booking, and career guidance for sports quota government appointments.
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PARTH Yojana (Promotion of Athletic Resilience and Talent Hunting):
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Focused talent scouting scheme directed at tribal blocks (Jhabua, Alirajpur, Mandla, Dindori) to scout natural endurance runners, archers, and weightlifters for induction into state residential academies.
Key Examination Takeaways:
- Madhya Pradesh finished 3rd among states at the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand with 82 medals (33 Gold, 25 Silver, 24 Bronze).
- In Mallakhamb (State Sport of MP), the state clinched 7 out of 9 Gold medals and both men's and women's team championships.
- Deva Meena set a sensational new national record of 5.32 metres in men's pole vault to secure the Gold medal.
- Grassroots sports reforms include the 19 Jan 2025 Fit India Club in Bhopal, Mera Yuva MP portal, and tribal PARTH scouting scheme.