Dehradun, Nov. 2 -- Uttarakhand is establishing a distinct identity as 'Khel Bhumi' (land of sports) alongside its revered standing as 'Devbhumi' (land of gods), chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Sunday, highlighting the growing participation of youth in sports across the state. Dhami was speaking at the closing ceremony of Khel Mahakumbh-2026 and the Chief Minister's Championship Trophy at Mini Stadium in Nannurkheda, Dehradun. He presented the championship trophy to Dehradun, the overall winning district, along with a cash prize of Rs.5 lakh. The chief minister also launched the state's youth portal, meroyuva.in, and witnessed demonstrations of Mallakhamb and artistic yoga by young athletes. Addressing the gathering, Dhami said sports play a crucial role in building discipline, self-confidence, resilience and team spirit, beyond the pursuit of medals. He said the Khel Mahakumbh, which began on September 1 in Tanakpur, Champawat district, progressed through Nyaya Panchayat, assembly and parliamentary levels before culminating in the state-level event. Participation in the sporting initiative rose to more than 3.35 lakh athletes this year, compared with 2.20 lakh last year, he said. "The initiative launched in 2017 has evolved into a vibrant sports movement across rural and urban pockets of Uttarakhand. Under the Chief Minister's Championship Trophy, 32 sports disciplines were organized across 662 Nyaya Panchayats, all 70 assembly constituencies, parliamentary levels, and the state final," Dhami said. He announced that approximately Rs.11.30 crore in prize money would be transferred directly to the bank accounts of winning athletes from the grassroots to the state level through Direct Benefit Transfer. The chief minister also said eligible medal winners at the state-level Chief Minister's Championship Trophy would receive 4% horizontal reservation in direct recruitment to state government posts, subject to prescribed rules. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, initiatives like Khelo India and Fit India have generated unprecedented awareness for sports nationwide. Our state government is committed to ensuring that no talented player is left behind due to a lack of resources or opportunities," Dhami said. He lauded Uttarakhand athletes for their performance at the 38th National Games, hosted by the state last year, and expressed confidence that emerging talent from Khel Mahakumbh would represent the country at upcoming national and international competitions. Sports minister Rekha Arya highlighted welfare initiatives, including the Chief Minister Udiyaman Khiladi Unnayan Yojana and the Chief Minister Khiladi Protsahan Yojana, which provide financial assistance and equipment scholarships to young athletes. She said sports infrastructure was being expanded across the state, citing the newly operational Girls Sports College in Lohaghat and ongoing efforts to establish a State Sports University and specialised high-performance academies....