By Sachin Murdeshwar

Mumbai  : “Maharashtra is the land of sports and sporting legends that have made a mark on history. Legends  like Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, India’s first individual Olympics medalist, Master Blaster  Sachin Tendulkar, Anjali Bhagwat and many more are the heroes that have graced our nation’s sporting legacy. It is an honour to host the 2nd edition of Khelo India Youth Games. In this age of technology, where our youth is increasingly entangled in the clutches of cyber slavery,

we aim to groom a strong sports culture in the country,” said Shri Vinod Tawde, Honourable Minster for Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Maharashtra while sharing details about the 2nd Kehlo India Youth Games, a platform to identify and then nurture the country’s best junior sporting talent.  This mammoth sporting extravaganza will be organised at various venues from January 9 to 20, 2019.

One of the largest ever congregation of sportspersons and officials, numbering around 12000, from all over the country, in the age groups of Under-17 and Under-21 will participate in 18 sporting disciplines, from which the champions will then be identified and provided with financial and infrastructural assistance to achieve their sporting aspirations.

“It’s definitely an honour for the State of Maharashtra to win the rights to host the Khelo India Youth Games. We bid for the games and were then picked from the three finalists, thanks to the wonderful multi-sports infrastructure at the Shiv Chhatrapati Stadium, Pune,” the Minister added.

Elaborating on the purpose of hosting the Khelo India Youth Games, Shri Tawde said, “The Khelo India Youth Games would help in strengthening the sports culture of the nation and also help In identifying students with sports potential, thus grooming them for future sports events on the national and international level.

“The winners would be provided with financial and infrastructural assistance to achieve their sporting aspirations,” Shri Tawde added.

A total outlay of Rs 40 crores has been spent for the Khelo India Youth Games, from which 80 percent of the expenditure has been towards refurnishing the existing sports infrastructure. The Central Government has funded up to 50 per cent of that expenditure, said the Minister.

The Opening Ceremony of the Khelo India Youth Games would held at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium, Balewadi, Pune on January 9 and would be graced by the presence of Union Minister of  Sports and Youth Welfare Maj. Rajyavardhan Rathore, CM of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra State Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare Vinod Tawde and other dignitaries.

Touching on the arrangements made for the players and officials who will be traveling to Pune and Mumbai for the Khelo India Youth Games, Shri Tawde said that players have been provided with quality accommodation while special care is being taken towards their diet and nutrition.

“All the needs of the sportsmen are being taken care of, so they can focus totally on giving their best on the field,” said Shri Tawde.

A temporary 10-bed hospital with fully equipped emergency & ICU  facilities would be set up,there would be 18 ambulances on site, with emergency responders and first aid at all arenas,Shri Tawde added.