Yuva Khelkud Mahasangh: Building a Grassroots Sports Movement for India’s Youth

Agra, Uttar Pradesh: In a country with millions of talented young athletes, access to proper sporting opportunities remains an important challenge, particularly for players from rural, economically weaker and underserved communities. Addressing this gap, Yuva Khelkud Mahasangh (YKKM) has been working to create greater opportunities for young people through sports, physical education, training and competitive events.

Established in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, on 23 June 2017, Yuva Khelkud Mahasangh was founded by Santosh Singh Taretiya (Santosh Singh) with a vision of taking sports opportunities beyond traditional urban centres and creating platforms where young athletes can develop their abilities and compete.

Promoting Sports at the Grassroots

YKKM describes itself as a multi-sports sports-promotion organization working to encourage participation in sports and physical activities. Its stated objectives include supporting sports competitions, conducting training camps, developing young people's character and leadership through sport, and providing opportunities for talented players to compete at different levels.

A major focus of the organization is grassroots development. Through competitions, camps, workshops and other sporting activities, YKKM aims to identify promising athletes and help them progress from local and district-level participation toward higher-level competition.

The organization says it has expanded its activities across multiple states and Union Territories and has registered players participating at different levels.

Training, Workshops and Athlete Development

Beyond competitions, Yuva Khelkud Mahasangh emphasizes education and development of players, coaches and officials.

The organization conducts workshops intended to provide athletes and coaches with information about techniques, rules and developments in sports. It also organizes seminars around sports, health and physical education, with the objective of increasing awareness and knowledge among young people.

This broader approach reflects the organization's belief that sports development is not limited to winning medals. Discipline, teamwork, leadership, physical fitness and confidence are also important elements of a young athlete's development.

Creating Opportunities for Rural and Emerging Talent

For many young athletes, especially those living outside major sporting centres, the first challenge is simply finding a platform on which their talent can be recognized.

YKKM's stated mission places particular emphasis on conducting sports camps in rural areas, improving access to physical activities and creating opportunities for talented players to participate in competitions at different levels.

The organization also states that it works to encourage women's participation in sports and promote equal opportunities for young people.

Youth Development Beyond the Playing Field

Yuva Khelkud Mahasangh's activities extend beyond sporting competitions. According to its official information, the organization also undertakes initiatives related to physical activity, yoga, health awareness, environmental awareness and community-oriented programs.

Its philosophy is reflected in its stated motto:

“United Youth Makes, Nation United.”

The idea is that organized sports can become a vehicle for developing responsible, confident and disciplined young citizens while simultaneously strengthening India's sporting culture.

The Vision of Santosh Singh Taretiya

At the centre of Yuva Khelkud Mahasangh's journey is its founder, Santosh Singh Taretiya, also publicly known as Santosh Singh.

His work has focused on creating sporting platforms and opportunities for young athletes, particularly those who may not otherwise receive sufficient exposure. He has also been associated with the development of the Mud Kabaddi League, another initiative aimed at creating a competitive platform for kabaddi talent.

Independent coverage has described Taretiya as the founder of Yuva Khelkud Mahasangh and highlighted his work in promoting opportunities for young athletes.

Looking Ahead

As India's sporting ecosystem continues to expand, grassroots organizations have an important role to play in identifying talent and encouraging participation at the community level.

Yuva Khelkud Mahasangh's stated vision is to continue developing sporting opportunities, organizing competitions and training programs, supporting coaches and athletes, and encouraging young people to consider sports and physical education as meaningful pathways for personal and professional development.

From its beginnings in Agra in 2017, YKKM has sought to build a wider sporting network around the idea that talent should not be limited by geography or background.

For India's next generation of athletes, that message remains particularly important: every talented young player deserves an opportunity to play, learn, compete and be recognized.