NANDED

Bail-gada shariyat, or bullock cart races, were once a common tradition across rural Maharashtra, including Nanded district. The races were banned in 2011, but in 2017, the State government enacted a legislation to restart the races. However, the Bombay High Court stayed the legislation, and the Supreme Court initially declined to lift the stay, referring the matter to a larger bench. In 2021, the Supreme Court upheld the State’s legislation, thereby legalizing the races once more.

Similar games are played in Tamil Nadu where it is known as ‘Jallikattu', also known as 'eruthazhuvuthal', and is played as part of the Pongal harvest festival. The Bail Gada shariyats of Maharashtra resemble the 'Kambala' race, held in Karnataka between November and March, which involves a pair of buffaloes tied to a plow and anchored by one person. They are made to run in parallel muddy tracks in a competition in which the fastest team wins.

The sport is extremely popular in the Nanded district and farmers enthusiastically participate in it with their bulls.

Cricket is widely regarded as the most popular sport in the district. Various local cricket tournaments are also held in the district at different places, notably, the Amdar Chashak Bhokar and the All India Sikh Sikhlikar Samaj Tournament. These tournaments are usually played by using the soft tennis ball instead of the cork and leather balls used otherwise. The sport also remains the most played and watched game in the district. There are several cricket academies as well that contribute to the promotion of the sport and provide the necessary infrastructure required for it such as the Knock Out Arena, Moin Cricket Academy, Renapurkar’s Nexus Sports Academy, and Shubham Cricket Academy. The Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Stadium located in Nanded city also hosts cricket matches. The Nanded Cricket District Association which is affiliated with the Maharashtra Cricket Board has also played a vital role in the development of the sport in the district.

Football has been gaining popularity in recent years. There are several football clubs as well that contribute to the promotion of the sport and provide the necessary infrastructure required for it such as the Noble FC and the Nanded District Football Association. Nanded also participates in the various inter-district matches and tournaments organized by the Western Indian Football Association (WIFA). However, the team hasn’t gained any huge success as such.

A few other sports such as table tennis and athletics of various kinds such as shot-put, discuss throw, relay races, etc are popular as well. In 2024, an Inter-school district-level competition was jointly organized by the District Sports Officer and Taluka Sports Council, Nanded for these sports.

Sports and other such activities also thrive on the various grounds of institutions such as the Shri Gobind Singhji Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Bhagyashree Jadhav, born on May 24, 1985, in Honvadaj, Mukhed taluka, is a remarkable Indian para-athlete who has been making strides at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Her journey into para-athletics began after a life-changing accident in 2006 that left her in a wheelchair. Struggling with depression, she found strength through the support of her friends, family, and Marathi journalist Prakash Kamble, who encouraged her to explore sports as a new path forward.

Her entry into para-athletics was marked by an impressive debut at the Mayor’s Cup in Pune in 2017, where she won two gold and one bronze medals. This success ignited her passion and determination, propelling her onto the international stage. In 2019, she represented India at the World Para Athletics Games in China, winning two bronze medals. Her progress continued, and in 2021, she secured another bronze at the Feja World Cup.

At the Paris Paralympics 2024, Bhagyashree competed in the F34 women’s shot put event, finishing fifth with a throw of 7.28 meters. Though she missed the podium, her performance was commendable in a highly competitive field. China’s Lijuan Zou claimed gold with a season-best throw of 9.14 meters, while Poland’s Lucyna Kornobys secured silver with a throw of 8.33 meters.

This marks Bhagyashree’s second appearance at the Paralympics, and she was honored as one of India’s flag bearers at the opening ceremony, alongside javelin thrower Sumit Antil. This recognition highlights her dedication and the profound impact she has made in the world of para-athletics.

Shamshuzama Kazi, a cricket player, was born on 10 November 1994 in Nanded. He made his List A debut for Maharashtra in the 2014–15 Vijay Hazare Trophy on 11 November 2014. He made his first-class debut for Maharashtra in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy on 17 November 2017.

The Guru Gobind Singh Stadium is one of the primary sports venues in Nanded, Maharashtra, primarily used for cricket matches. It is named after Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, who made Nanded his final abode and passed his Guruship to Guru Granth Sahib before he died in 1708.

As part of the state government's sports policy, former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar visited the stadium in 2014 for an inspection and guided its development into an international-standard cricket ground. Renovations began to upgrade the facility, including the construction of an 87-yard ground with four main pitches and six additional practice pitches. The stadium now features a lush green outfield, an advanced water sprinkler system, and a modern drainage setup. Funding for these improvements was allocated in 2018.

The stadium has hosted two Ranji Trophy matches—one in the 1980/81 season between Maharashtra and Bombay (now Mumbai) and another in 1983/84 between Maharashtra and Saurashtra. Notable performances include Riaz Poonawala’s 133-run innings against Saurashtra and a 134-run partnership between GA Parkar and RD Parkar against Bombay. The second-highest partnership was 102 runs by Bombay’s AV Mankad and ED Solkar in the 1980/81 match against Maharashtra.

Until 2014, the stadium was also used for political rallies and cultural events. The stadium campus additionally houses an indoor sports hall for badminton and other sporting activities, making it a significant sports hub in the region.

The Osman Shahi Mill ground is a famous ground located in Nanded city. The ground hosts various sports, particularly football. It is associated with the Osmanshahi Mills Private Limited, a private, non-governmental company in Nanded, Maharashtra, India that operated in the agriculture and allied activities business. The company was incorporated in 1963, but its operations are currently struck off.

The Nanded Club is a multi-facility sports complex located in the city of Nanded. It has a gym, lawn tennis court, a swimming pool, a few badminton courts, and various other such amenities that the people of the city can make use of.