Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Khelo India Youth Games 2024 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on January 19. The games are scheduled from January 19-31 and will feature the participation of 5,500 athletes competing in 26 different sports. Chief Minister M K Stalin, Governor R N Ravi, Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, and other dignitaries attended the event.
The games, similar to the successful 44th Chennai Chess Olympiad in 2022, will include sports like football, kabaddi, volleyball, Judo, weightlifting, and more. Notably, Silambam, a traditional sport of Tamil Nadu, will be introduced as a demonstration sport for the first time in the history of the Khelo India Youth Games.
This is the first time that the Khelo India Youth Games are being held in Southern India. The games are taking place in four cities in Tamil Nadu - Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, and Coimbatore.
Over 5,600 athletes are participating
This year's Khelo India Youth Games will have the participation of over 5,600 athletes across 13 days and 15 venues, with 26 sporting disciplines, over 275 competitive events, and one demo sport.
The 26 sporting disciplines include a variety of conventional sports such as football, volleyball, and badminton, as well as traditional sports such as Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang ta, Kabaddi, and Yogasana. Silambam, a traditional Tamil Nadu sport, will be introduced as a demo sport for the first time in the history of the Khelo India Youth Games.
During the inaugural ceremony, PM Modi will also launch and lay the foundations for projects in the broadcasting sector worth approximately Rs 250 crore. This includes the relaunch of the DD Podhigai channel as DD Tamil, the establishment of 12 Akashvani FM projects across eight states, and the installation of four DD transmitters in Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, the Prime Minister will lay the groundwork for 26 new FM transmitter projects across 12 states.
Over 1,000 referees and 1,200 Volunteers are coordinating
Tamil Nadu's Minister and DMK leader, Udhayanidhi Stalin, expressed confidence that the games would highlight the state's organising prowess and rich sporting history. With competitions in Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore, and Madurai, the Khelo India Youth Games 2024 promises to provide a platform for young athletes to showcase their talents and sportsmanship.
The event, which was supported by over 1,000 referees and 1,200 volunteers, exemplifies the teamwork required to make these games a huge success. The Khelo India Youth Games continue to play an important role in instilling the spirit of sportsmanship and promoting diverse sporting disciplines throughout the country.
(Inputs from agencies)
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