LUCKNOW: More than 4,000 athletes representing over 200 universities will come together to take part in 21 sporting events at the Khelo India University Games being hosted by Uttar Pradesh from May 25 to June 3. The opening ceremony in Lucknow on Thursday evening will be inaugurated virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will be attended by Union minister for youth affairs and sports Anurag Thakur and UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
Khelo India Games will be the biggest sporting event hosted by UP till now. The 10-day long event will conclude on June 3 at the Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi.
The inaugural ceremony will boast of fireworks, Varanasi’s famed arti and a programme by singer Kailash Kher, along with cultural performances. The Khelo India torch, which started from Lucknow on May 5 and covered all 75 districts, reached Lucknow on Wednesday after covering a distance of 8,948 km. On Thursday, the torch will be brought to the venue of the inaugural ceremony, BBD University.
The events will be held in four cities in UP, Lucknow, Gautam Budh Nagar, Varanasi and Gorakhpur while Delhi will host the shooting events. With 12 events, Lucknow will host the most number of programmes. The citywill witness archery, judo, mallakhamb, volleyball, fencing, badminton, table tennis, rugby, athletics, hockey and football events at eight venues.
Gautam Budh Nagar will host five events at three venues, basketball, kabaddi,boxing, swimming and weightlifting. IIT-BHU in Varanasi will host wrestling and yoga events, while rowing events will take place in Gorakhpur’s Ramgarh Tal.
An official said that even though the Games were being officially inaugurated on May 25, events had already taken place on May 23 with Kabbadi taking place inGautam Budh Nagar. On May 24, Basketball matches started at the GB University Indoor Stadium, while Malkhamb, volleyball, table tennis, rugby, football and tennis matches started in Lucknow.
Additional Chief Secretary (Sports), Navneet Sehgal said: “All eyes will be on Lucknow. The atmosphere of sports in UP has changed. The Yogi Adityanath government is all set to leave its mark on the world sports arena with the help of Khelo India University Games-2022.” Sehgal added that the sports infrastructure in UP will be strengthened with the event. “UP government is committed to providing excellent services to players participating in the games,” he added.
Khelo India Games will be the biggest sporting event hosted by UP till now. The 10-day long event will conclude on June 3 at the Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi.
The inaugural ceremony will boast of fireworks, Varanasi’s famed arti and a programme by singer Kailash Kher, along with cultural performances. The Khelo India torch, which started from Lucknow on May 5 and covered all 75 districts, reached Lucknow on Wednesday after covering a distance of 8,948 km. On Thursday, the torch will be brought to the venue of the inaugural ceremony, BBD University.
The events will be held in four cities in UP, Lucknow, Gautam Budh Nagar, Varanasi and Gorakhpur while Delhi will host the shooting events. With 12 events, Lucknow will host the most number of programmes. The citywill witness archery, judo, mallakhamb, volleyball, fencing, badminton, table tennis, rugby, athletics, hockey and football events at eight venues.
Gautam Budh Nagar will host five events at three venues, basketball, kabaddi,boxing, swimming and weightlifting. IIT-BHU in Varanasi will host wrestling and yoga events, while rowing events will take place in Gorakhpur’s Ramgarh Tal.
An official said that even though the Games were being officially inaugurated on May 25, events had already taken place on May 23 with Kabbadi taking place inGautam Budh Nagar. On May 24, Basketball matches started at the GB University Indoor Stadium, while Malkhamb, volleyball, table tennis, rugby, football and tennis matches started in Lucknow.
Additional Chief Secretary (Sports), Navneet Sehgal said: “All eyes will be on Lucknow. The atmosphere of sports in UP has changed. The Yogi Adityanath government is all set to leave its mark on the world sports arena with the help of Khelo India University Games-2022.” Sehgal added that the sports infrastructure in UP will be strengthened with the event. “UP government is committed to providing excellent services to players participating in the games,” he added.