PM Modi inaugurates Khelo India University games in Lucknow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that in the last 9 years, a new era of games has begun in the country and it is not just for making the country a power in sports but also for social change. The Prime Minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Khelo India University games in Lucknow on Thursday evening. Connecting virtually to the event, Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the players who are taking part in the Khelo India University games.  Modi said to the players that they have come to sports in an era that is the era of India. Emphasizing the importance of the Khelo India campaign, Prime Minister said, more than thirty thousand players have taken part in Khelo India University games to date and more than one thousand Khelo India centres are being established in the country. He said, under the Khelo India campaign Rs 3000 crores rupees have been spent on the Urban sports infrastructure in the country and in the coming days the facilities are going to increase only. Underlining the role of the Khelo India campaign Modi said that it has revived the glory of the traditional sports of the country and the Government is giving scholarships to promote such games. He said that the positive change the Khelo India campaign has brought is that it has empowered the women players of the country. The Prime Minister said that, today Uttar Pradesh has become the confluence of the young energy and these games will connect the culture of different cities of the state to the players who have arrived here for the events.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of Sports Anurag Singh Thakur said that Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Khelo India Games have ushered in an era of New India. The emergence of talented athletes from the grassroots across the nation has accelerated India's sporting prowess on the stage.The grand opening ceremony of the 3rd Khelo India University games took place at Babu Banarasi Das sports complex in Lucknow. 

The Grand Opening Ceremony sprinkled with multiple cultural performances that complimented the spirit of #KheloIndia University Games 2022, Uttar Pradesh #KIUG2022

1/2 pic.twitter.com/rvF13oxyBX

— Khelo India (@kheloindia) May 25, 2023

This year, the third edition of the Khelo India University Games will be held till 3rd of June. These competitions will be organized in Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, and Gautam Buddha Nagar. The Games will witness the participation of over 4750 athletes from more than 200 Universities, who will be competing in 21 sports. The closing ceremony of the Games will be held in Varanasi on the 3rd of June in which the Prime Minister will also participate. The mascot of the Games is named Jitu, which represents Swamp Deer (Barasingha) - the state animal of Uttar Pradesh.