Vice President Naidu inaugurates Khelo India University Games

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu declared the Khelo India University Games open in Bengaluru on Sunday. The 10 days game has seen participation from over 4000 sportspersons from 200 Universities across India. In his address, the Vice President laid emphasis on the sporting capabilities of Indians and their potential to perform if given proper opportunities. He stressed the need to encourage indigenous games like kabaddi and Kho Kho. The performance of Indians in International events, he added, has brought laurels to the country. He advocated a healthy lifestyle and consumption of indigenous food and avoiding junk food. He said Indian food is best for providing nutrition to us. He appreciated the performance of para-athletes who won 19 medals in the recent international event.  

During the inaugural ceremony, the video message of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was relayed. In his message, the Prime Minister said that sports enhance a nation’s power. He asked athletes to work with the pride that they are playing for the country. This pride, he added, will help them exceed in their performance. Speaking on the occasion the Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said that the Games provide a platform to the budding sportsmen of India. It is the vision of the Prime Minister to organise the Games in a bid to create opportunities for the sportspersons to showcase their capabilities. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai addressed the opening ceremony by saying that it is an honour for Bengaluru to host the event. He said that the Khelo India game is also an opportunity for sportsmen from different parts of the country to meet at a point.