Khelo India Youth Games 2019 to kick start on Wednesday

The Khelo India Youth Games 2019, which will see a host of athletes in action, is set to officially kick off here Wednesday. Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will attend a virtual torch ceremony at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Wednesday evening, a media release said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the event through a video message. Among those in action will be world cadet champion wrestlers Anshu and Sonam, Olympian athlete Jisna Mathew, Youth Olympics gold medallist weight-lifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga, budding tennis player Mahak Jain and swimming star Srihari Nataraj.

The athletes will compete in 18 different disciplines, of which six are team sports, it added. The Balewadi complex, which will be the main venue, has been refurbished with funds from the Centre and the Maharashtra government. Archery will be held at the Army Sports Institute and girls hockey matches will be played at the NDA hockey ground. Football matches will be held at the Flame University ground and the police ground, it said. The hockey tournament for boys has already started in Mumbai from Monday.

Meanwhile, hosts Maharashtra, who finished second in the inaugural edition of the Games held last year, are aiming to grab the top spot from Haryana. At the Khelo India School Games 2018, Haryana won 38 gold, 26 silver and 38 bronze medals, while Maharashtra finished with 36 gold, 32 silver and 42 bronze medals. Maharashtra, however, had the consolation of winning most medals, 110, as compared to Haryana's 102, the release said.