Ludhiana: The world-famous Kila Raipur Rural Games, often dubbed India’s ‘Rural Olympics’, have been rescheduled to mid-Feb following heavy rainfall that left the event grounds waterlogged.Slated originally to begin this week, the games will now take place from Feb 17 to 19. District sports officer (DSO) Kuldeep Chugh confirmed the delay, noting that the health of the playing fields was the primary concern for the safety of both athletes and animals.The Return of the Bullock Cart RaceThe highlight of this year’s event is the return of the iconic bullock cart races, which have faced various legal and regulatory hurdles in recent years. Organisers have announced there will be no registration fees for participants in the races, which are scheduled to run across all three days of the festival.The three-day festival features a blend of traditional grit, modern athletics, and cultural performances. Feb 17 (Day 1) is for opening hockey matches for boys and girls, 1500m and 400m track finals, and the commencement of bullock cart races at 12.15pm. Feb 18 (Day 2) is for semi-finals for hockey, circle-style kabaddi, shot put, long jump, and the 100m sprint finals. Bullock cart races will run in two sessions (midday and late afternoon).Feb 19 (Day 3) is for high-stakes finals including the 800m run, high jump, and a 2000m cycle race. Notably, the day includes veterans’ sprints for men aged 65, 75, and over 80, alongside quirky traditional contests like “trolley loading/unloading”.Registration DeadlinesOrganisers have set strict cut-offs for participants. Hockey teams must submit entries by Feb 15 (6pm), while entries for the bullock cart racers will be accepted starting Feb 16 (2pm).
