SPO-KHELO OPENING

Khelo India declared open

Pune, Jan 9 (PTI)The Khelo India Youth Games 2019

were declared open here Wednesday in the presence of a host of

sports personalities including double Olympic medallist

wrestler Sushil Kumar.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union

Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore received the

virtual torch before Rathore joined athletes in taking the

pledge as the Games were declared open at the Shiv Chhatrapati

Sports Complex, a media release issued here said.

Prime MinisterNarendra Modi's message was read out

and displayed on the occasion.

Several sportspersons including Sushil Kumar, Olympian

hockey winners Gurbux Singh and Ajit Pal Singh, badminton

legend P Gopichand, shooter Gagan Narang, gymnasts Dipa

Karmakar and legendary woman footballer Bem Bem Devi were

present.

The ceremony officially kicked off the 12-day

extravaganza for over 6,000 Under-17 and Under-21 athletes.

Eighteen disciplines are being contested including

athletics, badminton, boxing, hockey and football.