Khelo India Youth Games: The next step to search for athletes

Unlike the inaugural edition of Khelo India in Delhi hosted by the Union government, the second edition — hosted by the Maharashtra state government — had free access for everyone.

Powered by high-definition cameras that rolled for at least 100 hours leading to good television coverage, the event was a big boost for sports in the country.

 

Nearly 6,000 athletes, spread over 18 disciplines — from athletics to wrestling — participated in the Khelo India Youth Games that was held in Pune in January 2019.

Unlike the inaugural edition of Khelo India in Delhi hosted by the Union government, the second edition — hosted by the Maharashtra state government — had free access for everyone. The security officials ensured that people enjoyed the event.

Powered by high-definition cameras that rolled for at least 100 hours leading to good television coverage, the event was a big boost for sports in the country.

Bengaluru-based swimmer Srihari Nataraj was the showstopper. He topped the list with seven gold medals and was presented a cheque of Rs 15 lakh. 

It was a major boost for hundreds of athletes as a few selected will receive Rs 5 lakh a year for the next eight years. 

After the event, the government also launched the Khelo India mobile app.

Developed by the Sports Authority of India as part of the Khelo India scheme, the application aims to further develop the sporting ecosystem in the country; it is available in Hindi and English.