Akshay Kumar inaugurates football tournament

New Delhi: Actor Akshay Kumar on Saturday inaugurated the third season of Hindustan Times Great Indian Football Action (GIFA) at the Thyagaraj Stadium in Delhi.

The event, organised by the Hindustan Times Group, was also attended by the participating teams of young football players.

"We wish best of luck to all the participating teams and thank all of them and their guardians for their constant support," Ashu Phakey, Business Head, HT Delhi, said in a statement.

"Above all, having Akshay to support our school of thought and highlight the importance of fitness through sports takes the enthusiasm a couple of notches higher," Phakey added.

Akshay, whose character in "Patiala House" loved to play cricket, said: "I want to do a film on kabaddi. It's nice to see that the world is responding to this Indian game."

Emphasising on the importance of sports and fitness in the accelerating digital scenario, the inter-locality football tournament provides a platform for children and families to step outside and have a chance to interact, stay fit and establish a connection with people in their area through sports.

This year, the event was open to teams from Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad. 

After selecting contestants online, the matches to be played in the tournament starting from October 1 will be conducted across two weekends in a knockout format with seven players each side.