New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday inaugurated Khelo India Youth Games in Haryana’s Panchkula in presence of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, reported news agency ANI. Shah was the chief guest at the launch event of the Khelo India Youth Games 2021.
This year’s Khelo India Youth game is the fourth edition of the series which was started by the Central Government in 2018 as the biggest nationwide grassroots level sports competition in India.
As per an earlier press release, apart from Amit Shah, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur and Minister of State For Youth Affairs and Sports Nisith Pramanik were also slated to attend the event.
Overall, as many as 4,700 athletes, including 2,262 girls, will be vying in 25 sports for 269 gold, 269 silver and 358 bronze medals from the games, which will start on 4th June and will go on until June 13.
KIYG 2021 will see participation from a total 36 States and Union Territories of India. This will be held over 5 cities (Panchkula, Shahbad, Ambala, Chandigarh and Delhi). The games will feature a total of 25 sports, including 5 indigenous games of India - Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta, Gatka, Mallakhamba and Yogasana.
Unlike previous editions of the sporting event where games were held in two categories, this time only under-18 players will compete for the honours. Hosts Haryana have fielded a 396-member contingent, the largest at KIYG 2021, and will compete in every sport. Two-time KIYG champions Maharashtra, meanwhile, are sending a 318-strong contingent and will be competing in 23 of the 25 events in Haryana.