Cuttack, Feb 22 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the first-ever Khelo India University Games via video conferencing at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, here on Saturday.
The Khelo India University Games will be held from February 22 to March 1 at Bhubaneswar.
This is the largest ever competition held at the University level in India, which will witness about 3,500 athletes from over 150 varsities across the country taking part in it.
Mr Modi called it a historic moment for Indian sports, as it will promote sports and fitness among the youth.
"It marks the next step in the country's sporting revolution," he said in his address.
"A new history has been made in Odisha today. This is not only a historic moment in Indian sports, but also a big step for the future of Indian sports," he added.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Minister of Steel Dharmendra Pradhan were also present on the occasion.
Ace sprinter Dutee Chand, who is a student of KIIT, the host university, was also a part of the event.
The Khelo India University Games are being organised by the Government of India, in association with Odisha government.
The Khelo India Programme, a brain child of the Prime Minister, has been introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grass-root level, by building a strong framework for all sports played in the country and establish India as a great sporting nation.
There will be a total of 17 sports namely archery, athletics, boxing, fencing, judo, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling, badminton, basketball, football, hockey, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, rugby and kabaddi.
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