Major Boost for Madhya Pradesh's Mallakhamb Players: Mallakhamb Academy to be Established in Ujjain
A significant initiative is underway—driven by the efforts of Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang—to elevate the sport of Mallakhamb and its players in Madhya Pradesh to new heights. A proposal has been drafted to develop a state-of-the-art Mallakhamb and Gymnastics Academy equipped with modern facilities for the state's Mallakhamb players.
Spanning approximately 20 acres, the academy will feature sports infrastructure, hostel facilities, modern sports equipment, and high-level training amenities. An outlay of approximately ₹86 crore has been proposed for the construction of the academy's infrastructure. Additionally, an operational expenditure of approximately ₹25.33 crore has been proposed for running the academy from the 2026-27 to 2028-29 fiscal years. Thus, the total proposed outlay stands at approximately ₹111.33 crore.
World-Class Platform for Mallakhamb Talent
Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Sarang stated that there is no shortage of talent in Madhya Pradesh; the need is to provide these talented individuals with modern facilities, expert training, and better opportunities. Minister Sarang noted that Mallakhamb is an integral part of Madhya Pradesh's glorious sporting tradition, and the state's players have proven their mettle at the national level. The objective behind establishing the Mallakhamb Academy is to provide scientific and high-tech training to the state's talent from a young age, enabling players to bring glory to Madhya Pradesh and the country at both national and international levels.
Minister Sarang added that, alongside sports training, the academy will provide players with accommodation, modern sports equipment, fitness facilities, physiotherapy, and sports science-based amenities.
Outstanding Performance by Mallakhamb Players at Khelo India
Mallakhamb players from Madhya Pradesh have delivered an outstanding performance at the national level. At the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 in Bihar, the state's athletes secured a total of 10 medals in Mallakhamb, comprising 7 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze. Recognizing these achievements, the need for an academy to provide high-level training and superior facilities for Mallakhamb players was identified. The proposed academy represents a significant step in this direction.
Training for Athletes
The proposal entails providing training to a total of 70 athletes at the Mallakhamb Academy. This group will consist of 35 boys, 15 girls, 15 day-boarding boys, and 5 day-boarding girls. In total, 50 athletes will be under the boarding arrangement, while 20 will follow the day-boarding model.
Ujjain to Become a New Nursery for Mallakhamb Talent
The responsibility for the operation and supervision of the academy is proposed to be assigned to the District Sports and Youth Welfare Officer, Ujjain. An organized, high-level training center for Mallakhamb will be developed in Madhya Pradesh through the proposed academy. Until the permanent infrastructure is ready, training will commence in Ujjain using a day-boarding model. Subsequently, the academy—equipped with state-of-the-art facilities—will play a pivotal role in preparing the state's Mallakhamb athletes for national and international levels.