The Khelo India Youth Games kick off on January 9th, aiming to uncover and highlight the raw athletic potential of India's youth.
This high-profile event acts as a unifying platform for several major bodies, including the SAI, the IOC, the School Games Federation of India, the Association of Indian Universities, and various national sports federations.
With more than 6,000 participants aged between 10 and 21, the games will be a melting pot of talent from every corner of the country, from rural heartlands to urban centers, all striving to put India on the world sporting map.
The roster of athletes includes experienced competitors such as Rio Olympian Jisna Mathew and elite swimmer Srihari Nataraj, who has already made a mark in the Asian and Commonwealth Games.
Among the participants are some truly remarkable young talents, like Jharkhand's Pratima Kumar in football, Mizoram's Lallanchangungi in hockey, and the 10-year-old shooting sensation Abhinav Shaw from West Bengal, who won a national gold medal last November. For these kids, competing in such a large-scale multi-sport event is a life-changing experience.
Athletes will battle it out in 18 different categories, featuring a blend of individual and team events. This includes a mix of global sports and traditional Indian favorites like Kho-Kho and Kabaddi, celebrating the country's sporting heritage.
Following the success of the Khelo India School Games (KISG2018), the Youth Games aim to act as a catalyst for national unity, bringing diverse participants together under one sporting banner.
Speaking on the event, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore noted that 9,000 athletes have registered for the 2019 Khelo India Youth Games. He praised the historic achievements of Indian athletes across the Commonwealth, Asian, Para Asian, and Youth Olympic Games. The Sports Minister also highlighted that 1,500 athletes emerged from the 2018 School Games and are currently receiving specialized training, expressing confidence that this program will produce future legends who will make India proud globally.
The upcoming Khelo India Youth Games in January will see over 10,000 participants from across the nation. The competition is open to athletes in the Under-17 and Under-21 age brackets, who will compete across 18 different sports.