Maharashtra to host Khelo India Youth Games in January

Maharashtra to host Khelo India Youth Games in January

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Written by: SportsCafe Desk

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The second edition of the Khelo India Youth Games are scheduled to be held in Maharashtra in the city of Pune from January 9 onwards with improved sporting infrastructure. The sporting spectacle will take place in 18 different disciplines and over 900 local athletes will take part in these Games.

The 2019 edition of the Khelo India Youth Games will be held in Pune from January 9 onwards and will see a host of young talent from all across the country join in and showcase their skills on a big platform. Maharashtra Sports Minister Vinod Tawde revealed that the second edition of the competition will see an improved sporting infrastructure as well as an upgraded shooting range. Tawde predicted that competitions will take place in 18 different disciplines and over 900 athletes from the host state will take part in these Games.

"It is an honour for Maharashtra to host these games. We got some funds from the Centre and the state government also chipped in to refurbish sports infrastructure at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune.

"All the stadiums have been upgraded. Electronic and digital targets have been fitted at the shooting range. Around 14,000 persons, including 9,000 sportspersons and 4,000 managers, will be coming for the Games. The accommodation of players has been made in good hotels in and around Pune and not in dormitories," Tawde told PTI sources.

Tawde highlighted that today's younger generation have become "cyber-slaves" and Khelo India in Maharashtra will start a "movement against cyber-slavery". He also spoke about the progressive work that his ministry has done in order to bear fruit to this competition in the past year or so.

"We want to develop sports culture in school kids, college youth, so we have started appealing to schools and colleges to have one evening in a week as no gadget evening.

"We have decided to grant 10 to 20 marks extra in the final exams for those who play school games and give 5 per cent reservation in government jobs for those who participate at national level competitions. Those who will win medals at the international level will be directly given jobs," Tawde added.

Officials said since there are many teams for hockey, their matches have started here from Monday, so that they can draw to an end on January 20. In addition to that, it was revealed that Balewadi sports complex will be the main venue, archery will be held at the Army Sports Institute and girls hockey matches at the NDA hockey ground in Pune. Football matches will be played at the Flame University ground and the police ground in Shivajinagar, officials confirmed.

Olympics gold medallists in shooting, Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary, along with weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga, will be amongst the young stars that will participate in the sporting events at these games.

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