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Khelo India women’s hockey league for under-16 begins

“The U-16 Women’s Hockey League is a good opportunity to shine and it’s a great platform to learn also. And like our Hon’ble PM said to our athletes before the CWG, give your best and don’t worry about win or lose.”…reports Asian Lite News

Indian hockey legend Zafar Iqbal declared the 1st Khelo India Women’s Hockey League (U-16) open at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium here on Tuesday.

The Phase 1 of the tournament, scheduled until August 23, started earlier in the morning.

Also present during the opening ceremony were Ekta Vishnoi, Senior Director, Khelo India, Vineet Kumar, former Indian men’s team hockey player, Asunta Lakra, former Indian women’s team hockey player, Piyush Kumar Dubey, former coach of the Indian men’s hockey team, amongst others.

“It is great to see the kind of enthusiasm our Hon’ble Prime Minister has for sports and today we have so many platforms like the Khelo India scheme, which has made this U-16 tournament possible,” mentioned Iqbal, gold medalist, 1980 Moscow Olympics.

“The Commonwealth Games recently showed us that be it in Hockey or Athletics, our girls are capable of defeating any team in the world. You have the skill and stamina and you are the future,” Iqbal added, addressing close to 300 players across the 16 teams participating.

“The U-16 Women’s Hockey League is a good opportunity to shine and it’s a great platform to learn also. And like our Hon’ble PM said to our athletes before the CWG, give your best and don’t worry about win or lose.”

Speaking at the inauguration of the first Khelo India Women’s Hockey League (U-21) last year, Sports minister Anurag Thakur had mentioned that junior athletes train at the camp throughout the year but they have limited exposure to competition which is very crucial to perform well at international platforms and that was the idea of behind launching the women’s leagues in India.

A total of 56 matches will be played in Phase 1. The Sports Authority of India has allocated a total of Rs 53.72 lakh for 3 phases of the competition, which includes Prize money of Rs 15.5 lakh.

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Nearly 4,700 athletes ready for Khelo India Youth Games

Among the Olympic team disciplines, hockey will witness 288 players wielding their wands while an equal number will indulge in a kickabout in football…reports Asian Lite News

Panchkula has laid out the red carpet for close to 4,700 athletes, including 2,262 girls, and their support staff as the biggest Khelo India Youth Games ever are set to start from June 4.

The Tau Devi Lal Complex (TDCL) here has been decked up for the grand Opening Ceremony.

It will also be the hub of all action, with several of the 25 disciplines being held at the newly constructed Multi-Purpose Halls. Among the popular games being held here are Athletics, Football, Badminton, Table Tennis, Kabaddi, Handball, Wrestling, Volleyball, Boxing and the five Indigenous Games.

Four other cities, Ambala (Gymnastics, Swimming), Shahabad (Hockey, Chandigarh (Archery and Football) and New Delhi (Cycling and Shooting), will also play the role of hosts.
For the first time, all 36 states and Union Territories are taking part in this edition of the Khelo India Youth Games, with hosts Haryana fielding the largest contingent of 398 athletes.

Defending champions Maharashtra are fielding the second-largest contingent with 357 athletes and third-placed Delhi 339. Andaman & Nicobar are sending the smallest squad of six, all cyclists, while Ladakh will boast of seven.

The glamour discipline of athletics will see the maximum participation with 392 entries in various events. Wrestling, where India’s international prospects are rather bright, will attract 323 grapplers while some of India’s most promising swimmers will be among the field of 251 who hope to make waves in the pool.

In boxing, 236 pugilists will be trading their flying fists in the ring.

Among the Olympic team disciplines, hockey will witness 288 players wielding their wands while an equal number will indulge in a kickabout in football.

Of the traditional Indian team sports, kabaddi and kho-kho will feature 192 participants each. The four new indigenous sports – gatka (227), mallakhamb (218), kalariyapattu (187) and thang ta (140) – have attracted an enthusiastic response from participants along with the more familiar discipline of yogasana (87). The Cricket Stadium in Panchkula will host these events along with kho-kho.

The most heated action in the individual events will be witnessed in swimming and athletics where 114 and 96 medals respectively will be at stake. Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Delhi will be vying for top honours in swimming while Kerala, whose star athletes have mostly kept away due to the off season, will strive hard to set the track on fire.

“Haryana is a sporting state and we are keen on creating an atmosphere at the Games that everybody will enjoy,” Satyadev Malik, Deputy Director of Haryana sports department, said.

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Anurag Thakur launches 4th Khelo India Youth Games

Tau Devi Lal Stadium in picturesque Panchkula will be the hub of all action while Chandigarh, Ambala, Shahbad and Delhi will host some of the competitions…reports Asian Lite News

The countdown for the 4th Khelo India Youth Games began on a high note, with the unveiling of its logo, mascot, jersey and anthem at a spectacular launch ceremony in Panchkula on Saturday.

Attended by a power-packed audience, led by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal and Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur, the captivating show set the stage for the biggest and grandest Games ever.

“We are proud and honoured to host this edition of the Khelo Games. We can’t wait to welcome the country’s youngest sporting talent to our beloved state,” Manohar Lal said.

The chief minister pointed out Haryana’s proud tradition of sending the maximum number of athletes to represent India in international competitions. “More importantly, we have won one-third of the medals won by India in the Olympics and other major world events,” he added.

The KIYG will begin on June 4. Over 8,000 students from across the country will compete in 25 disciplines, including five traditional games — Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta, Mallakhamba and Yogasana — that will feature as demonstration sports.

Tau Devi Lal Stadium in picturesque Panchkula will be the hub of all action while Chandigarh, Ambala, Shahbad and Delhi will host some of the competitions.

“In the recent past, our athletes have been doing very well on the world stage. It’s heartening that several youngsters who represent the country internationally are emerging from the Khelo Youth and University Games,” Anurag Thakur said. “PM Modi ji’s vision of Young India will surely see India finishing in the Top 10 of the Olympic Games in the not too distant future,” he added.

Among the several dignitaries present at the Launch Ceremony were Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Gianchand Gupta, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala and Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Sandeep Singh, a hockey legend himself.

The KIYG logo sports the now popular line-drawing of a running athlete in saffron and green colours. It also has a few other elements that signify the essence and glory of the state of Haryana. It includes two iconic images from the Mahabharata, the bow wielded by Arjuna and the chariot commandeered by Lord Krisha, and five sports that Haryana has dominated over the years.

The mascot, named Dhaakad, is the bull that is not only revered in these parts of the country but is also believed to be the secret behind the superhuman strength of Haryana’s sons and daughters.

The Games anthem, penned and performed by rap star Raftaar, proved to be an instant hit, with the gathering unable to stop tapping its feet or clapping to the glorious beat. The song cleverly glorifies almost every sports star of the state, including hockey legend Sandeep Singh, India’s first Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya, Kapil Dev and Sakshi Malik.

For the first time, the government has envisaged a KIYG torch relay which will be carried to every corner of Haryana to promote the Games and encourage every kid to take up sports.

Haryana is all geared up for the Games, having built several world-class multipurpose sports venues, synthetic tracks and artificial turfs. Among the new infrastructure are a Badminton Hall in Government Women’s College, Panchkula. State-of-the-art hockey stadiums are also ready in Panchkula and Shahbad while an all-weather swimming pool has come up in Ambala.

The Games are being organised jointly by the State Government, Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

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