The Masterminds of the Games: When Players Become World-Class Organizers

Introduction

Gujarat sportspersons have played a pivotal role in elevating the state's sports landscape by transitioning from athletes to organizers, coaches, and administrators. Their contributions span decades, fostering grassroots events to international bids through hands-on involvement.

Early Pioneers (1960s-1980s)

In the post-independence era, Gujarat's athletes laid foundational efforts in sports promotion. Sudhir Parab, India's first Arjuna Awardee in kho-kho from Gujarat, won national championships with the state team in 1961, 1962, 1965, 1967, and 1970 while coaching from age 17. At 82, he continues mentoring young talents at Vadodara's Youth Service Centre, organizing daily training sessions that echo the era's massive crowds of over 8,000 spectators for inter-university tournaments. Similarly, Govindrao Sawant, Gujarat's sole Olympic medalist, secured silver in hockey at the 1960 Rome Olympics and later mentored grassroots athletes as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in Vadodara, building local sports culture.

Sudhir Parab

Institutional Growth (1990s-2000s)

Athletes increasingly entered administration and event founding. Geet Sethi, the Ahmedabad-born snooker legend and Arjuna Awardee, co-founded Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) in 2001 with Prakash Padukone, supporting over 400 Olympians and Paralympians across 10 Olympic and 8 Paralympic Games with training and resources. His efforts extended to running billiards competitions and promoting academies.

Geet Sethi

Mega Events Era (2010s Onward)

The 2010 launch of Khel Mahakumbh (KMK), Gujarat's annual mega-event with 3 million participants across 39 sports, marked a surge, inspiring national Khelo India. Sportspersons like Yash Bhalawala served as operations managers for KMK, tracking participation and marketing for mass turnout. Pro Kabaddi League's Gujarat Giants, hosted at Ahmedabad's EKA Arena since 2014, involved former players like coach Ram Mehar Singh (Arjuna Awardee) in team management. Parab's ongoing clinics and Sawant's legacy influenced these grassroots-to-state pipelines.

Recent Global Push (2020s)

Today, Gujarat eyes 2030 Commonwealth Games hosting, awarded November 2025, with athletes in organizing roles amid 2025 events like Commonwealth Weightlifting and Asian Aquatics Championships. Maana Patel (swimmer, Tokyo Olympian) and others inspire through comebacks, indirectly boosting event participation. Corporate-backed leagues like Cricket Premier League, supported by Gujarat Cricket Association, feature athlete-leaders spotting talent.

Record: When Gujarat hosted the 36th National Games in 2022, it set a record by preparing for the entire mega-event in just three months—the shortest preparation time in the history of the National Games.

image credits - Google