All in readiness: The Khelo India Youth Video games might be inaugurated on the Nehru Stadium on Friday.
| Picture Credit score: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
A refurbished observe will welcome the athletes when the Khelo India Youth (under-17 girls and boys) Video games (KIYG) might be inaugurated on the Nehru Stadium right here on Friday. The Video games conclude on January 31. A renovated velodrome for biking on the Tamil Nadu Bodily Training and Sports activities College (Melakottaiyur) might be an added attraction.
With greater than 5,000 sportspersons throughout 26 disciplines participating, KIYG will witness hectic competitors within the occasions occurring in 4 cities — Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tiruchi. Many of the self-discipline — 20 — might be held right here.
Maharashtra, the defending champion, has been a powerhouse, having received the general championship 3 times and ending runner-up twice within the final 5 editions.
Vijay Bapurao Santan, chef-de-mission of Maharashtra, is assured of the facet repeating its dominance this time round.
“We’re ready. There was robust competitors from Haryana and Madhya Pradesh within the final two editions. Now we have chosen the perfect athletes with the help of the Maharashtra Authorities and our respective State Associations,” he informed The Hindu.
With a contingent of 415, Maharashtra might be desperate to carry out higher within the disciplines it has not executed properly earlier.
“Now we have executed actually in archery, boxing, swimming, taking pictures, and athletics. We should do much better in biking and kabaddi.”
In the meantime, host Tamil Nadu, in a launch, stated it has set a goal of ending within the high three within the medals tally. Consisting of a 522-member contingent, TN’s chef-de-mission J. Mercy Regina, stated the State is hoping to shut in on a century of medals.
“The State authorities has been investing closely in figuring out and nurturing expertise on the grassroots degree and the contingent reveals how a lot progress we have now made. With the World Beaters Expertise Recognizing Scheme, 27 sports activities hostels have been established,” stated Regina.
Explaining the rationale for her optimism, she added: “Within the earlier version, we had a restriction on the variety of gamers we may subject based mostly on the nationwide rating. However being the host this time, we are able to subject a bigger contingent.”