The second edition of Khelo India Youth Games officially begins in Pune, Maharashtra today. Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will attend a virtual torch ceremony at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in the evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the event through a video message.

More than 9,000 players from different states will participate in 18 different events. Star Shooter Manu Bhaker, who won a Gold at the Youth Olympics, Saurabh Chaudhari, as well as weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga will be among the cream of India’s youth sporting talent competing at the Games.

Three 10-year-old athletes – footballer Pratima Kumar from Jharkhand, hockey player Laltlanchhungi from Mizoram and West Bengal’s 10-metre Air Rifle Shooter Abhinav Shaw – will pick up their first experience of competing in a large-scale multi-discipline event.

The hockey tournament for boys has already started in Mumbai from Monday.