Deputy Commissioner Ikram Shariff serves the ball to inaugurate the Kalaburagi Sports Fest at Chandrashekhar Patil Stadium in Kalaburagi on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
The four-day Kalaburagi Sports Festival-2026, aimed at promoting a sporting culture and encouraging local talent, got under way at the Chandrashekhar Patil Stadium in Kalaburagi on Thursday.
Deputy Commissioner Ikram Shariff inaugurated the festival organised jointly by the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports and the Kalaburagi Next Foundation. Around 1,400 athletes are participating in competitions in seven sporting disciplines being held at different venues across the city.
At the inaugural programme, the Deputy Commissioner unveiled the sports festival jersey sponsored at a cost of about ₹12.5 lakh and formally launched the opening volleyball match by serving the ball.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Shariff said the Next Foundation had organised the festival to encourage local athletes and provide them with an opportunity to showcase their talent. He urged the participants to take part in the competitions in the true spirit of sportsmanship and said efforts would be made to include more sporting disciplines in the festival in the coming years.
City Police Commissioner S.D. Sharanappa said the sports festival would provide a major platform to identify and encourage sporting talent among local youth. He urged young athletes to make the best use of the opportunity.
Volleyball, badminton and table tennis competitions are being held at the Chandrashekhar Patil Stadium in association with the Sprenzo organisation of Bengaluru and local sports associations. Cricket matches are being held at the Government Degree College campus, chess competitions at the indoor stadium of MSI Degree Pre-University College and football matches at Virendra Patil Layout.
As part of the festival, a cyclothon will be held on September 27. It will begin at 6 a.m. from the Sri Sharanabasaveshwar Temple and pass through Jagat Circle, Government Museum, Kharge Petrol Pump Circle, Buddha Vihar, Kharge Petrol Pump Circle, Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, and the Mini Vidhana Soudha before concluding at the Chandrashekhar Patil Stadium.
Published – September 24, 2026 08:31 pm IST
