Khelo India 2nd edition was launched by the Minister for youth affairs and sports on 9th January and will be held at Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Pune which is hoisting first multi-sports event since Commonwealth youth games 2008. The games are being held from January 9th and will conclude on January 20th and are expected to see over 10,000 participants from 29 states and seven Union Territories taking part in the two age categories — under 17 (for school students) and under 21(for college students). As of now, Maharashtra is on the top (subject to change as and when this article sees the light of the day), but the actual cynosure of this article is to analyze the Khelo India program.
HISTORY – It was started last year by the Prime minister of the country in Delhi with its first season held at Indira Gandhi stadium where students fought for 209 gold medals across 16 sports. Badminton, basketball, boxing (26 gold medals), gymnastics (20 gold medals), judo (16 gold medals), kabaddi, volleyball and wrestling (30 gold medals) were held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium Complex. Athletics (36 gold medals), football, kho kho and weightlifting (16 gold medals) were held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Swimming at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Complex (35 gold medals), hockey at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium and shooting at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range were other venues.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES – The official website of the Khelo India says “Sports is an extremely important component for the overall development of our nation. India, in the last few years, has made steady progress in the field of sports. This tremendous potential needs to be showcased at a global platform. It’s time we inspire young talent, give them top-notch infrastructure and training of the highest level. We need to inculcate a strong spirit of participation in sports that enables players to demonstrate their true potential. Only then can India realise its dream of becoming a sports superpower.”
It aims to promote games which are considered secondary in India after cricket including but not limited to Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Football, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Shooting, Swimming, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.
SCHOLARSHIPS- It provides a scholarship of Rs 5 Lacks per annum for a stint of 8 years to talented players selected by a high-level committee. This step will be a major boon for players who are not able to fund themselves for the period when their actual talent is not harbingered to the world and they are not getting proper emoluments.
This is the first time that a sportsman himself has the charge of the sports ministry and his empathy has lit the lamp of hope in the hearts of many Indians that India is gonna have a fantastic future in sports.
