Sonowal, Rijiju inaugurate 3rd Khelo India Youth Games in Guwahati

Around 6500 athletes from across the country have assembled in Guwahati for this prestigious event who will be vying for 451 medal events in 20 sport disciplines.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi lunched Khelo India Youth Games not just as a sports programme but also as a mission. It is a mission to make sports a priority in the lives of common people of India.

The aim of the games is to mainstreaming sport as a tool for individual development, community development, economic development and national development.

Referring to Bhupen Hazarika’s timeless piece “Ei Prithiivi Ek Krihangan, Krihai Hoise Shantir Prangan”, which means “This world is a playground and sports cultivate this ground for peace," Chief Minister Sonowal said that every young and old must adopt sports as a part of their lives.

He also said that sports not only enhance teamwork but also bring a spirit of openness and empower everybody to accept others. Sports help develop team spirit, strategic and analytical thinking and leadership skills besides infusing confidence to set goals and take risks.

He also said that fit and healthy individuals make an equally healthy society and strong nation.

Referring to PM Modi who often says, “Jo Khele, Wo Khile, Sonowal said that under his visionary leadership, the Union Government launched “Khelo India” to create an eco-system to identify and nurture the sports talentsand fuel their passion for excellence.

Chief Minister Sonowal also observed that for a multi cultural, multi lingual and multi ethnic country like India, sports and culture have a transformative potential in enabling stronger and deeper people to people ties.

"It has the power in strengthening unity and harmony in a society. Continuous interaction, travel for competitions, matches and training gives the sportsmen an opportunity to understand the culture and tradition of other regions of the country. This contributes immensely to National Integration. He also said that he is confident that the 3rd edition of Khelo India will further develop such bonhomie amongst the participants.This will also offer an opportunity to make friends with the rich natural beauty of Assam," said he.

Stating the rich history of Assam which is blessed with the virtues of Srimanta Sankaradeva and Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, Sonowal said that sports had always been an integral part of the state.

The Chief Minister also informed the gathering that inspired by the futuristic leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the State government is working with the vision to position and develop Guwahati as the emerging sports capital of the country and Assam as a sports hub.

He also said that his government has already launched an Integrated Sports Policy that offers attractive cash incentives, special incentives to medal winners in Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth games and World Championships such as direct entry into Class I and Class II government jobs apart from financial incentives.

Sonowal also said that the sports policy aims to identify and nurture sporting talent in Assam and give them the opportunity to shine and excel in the global sports arena by creating a sports-centric, incentivized ecosystem for all stake holders. Moreover, Assam Olympic Association is about to launch a new programme, “Grassroot Olympic – Mission Talent Hunt” to identify talents at the grassroot level.

Union Minister of State (i/c) for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju while speaking on the occasion said that he is confident that the 3rd Khelo India Youth Games being held across nine locations and 12 venues would be highly competitive.

"This will also be a powerful display of sporting excellence of the young talents of the country who according to him will represent India in world sports events and bring more laurels to the country making their families, state and the nation proud," Rijiju said.

He also thanked Chief Minister Sonowal for creating a level playing field for all the athletes to showcase their sporting acumen and get noticed for the international sporting competition.

He hailed Chief Minister Sonowal and government of Assam for presenting a platform for organising best ever Khelo India Youth Games. He also exuded hope that the Khelo India Youth Games which is conceived of by the Prime Minister would help the country of being in the top 10 position in the ensuing Los Angeles Olympic Games to be held in 2028.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal released a souvenir christened ‘Brahmaputra’.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)