Khelo India University Games 2021: All you need to know
Image Source – KIUG
2021 is finally giving us excellent news on sporting events! With almost a year in lockdown and clamp-on sporting activities and events, the Union Sports Ministry has given the sporting fraternity hope with the announcement of the Khelo India University Games 2021 slated to be hosted in Jain University, Karnataka this year.
Taking pride in the success of the Khelo India Youth Games, the Khelo India University Games are intended for university students between the ages of 18 and 25 who have immense talent in their respective sporting fields.
What are the Khelo India University Games all about?
Image Source – Khelo India
The Khelo India University Games is a national-level sporting event that invites athletes from universities across the nation to compete in a host of sporting events and showcase their talent. The first edition of these games was held in Cuttack, being inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi. This year, the second edition is being hosted at Jain University.
Image Source – Jain University
Many of the games will also be held at various venues that are yet to be announced across Karnataka. These Games are an initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to provide a platform for young students, especially those from backgrounds where they don’t have access to sporting infrastructure and support, to showcase their merit and develop talent.
This event aims to promote sporting activities, camaraderie among young people and bring sporting talent to the university level. These Games are witnessed by the best of coaches, mentors, athletes, and sponsors – scouting talent is a huge part of these Games since many young athletes are identified for their capabilities to hone talent and represent India at the Asian Games and Olympics.
Who is the main organizer behind the Khelo India University Games?
The Games are organized jointly by –
- Sports Authority of India
- Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
- Association of Indian Universities
- Indian Olympic Association
- National Sports Federation
Owing to the affiliation and organization level, the Khelo India University Games is India’s largest university-level sporting competition.
Who participates in these Games?
Students at a university level are welcome to participate in these Games. In the first edition, almost 158 universities were represented by over 3,000 athletes. This year is expected to be even bigger.
Some of the huge names from last year’s edition include Dutee Chand (participated in athletics and went on to set a record for the 100m university race at 11.49 seconds), Srihari Nataraj (participated in swimming), and Vahbiz Bharucha (Rugby Player).
The 2021 edition is expecting over 4,000 athletes to participate. Last year, the winners were Panjab University, winning 46 medals, and Savitribai Phule Pune University finishing a close second with 37 medals.
Some of the other universities that participated included the University of Mumbai, Mahatma Gandhi University, Barkatullah University, Kurukshetra University, Jain University, and Lovely Professional University.
What are some events of the Khelo India University Games?
Last year, around 17 events were held. This year, the Games will witness 19 sporting events in the under-25 category, played following the World University Games regulations and norms.
The sports played at these Games include many events such as archery, kabaddi, rugby, athletics, swimming, badminton, fencing, boxing, football, judo, hockey, wrestling, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, and weightlifting.
Last year, rugby and fencing were two sports to be included for the first time in a competitive Khelo India avatar. This year, the newest additions are yogasana and mallakhamb.
Are you ready to participate in the ‘Khel’?
The Khelo India University Games is an inclusive event that allows students from across the country to compete and portray their grit, mettle, talent, and sportsmanship. Students across the nation are waiting with bated breath to participate and make their alma mater proud.
At The Sports School, university level, we are excited to have the opportunity to participate and showcase our in-grown talent at a national level! Our students have been training hard, and it is our prerogative to ensure they can compete with other athletes at the university level. Our students have all the merit and talent to make the university proud with their participation at the Khelo India University Games.
The dates of the 2021 event are yet to be announced and will be announced on the official website.
