Khelo India University Games 2022: UP CM Yogi Adityanath to be chief guest for launch ceremony

The 12-day-long competition is set to be held across four cities

The Jupiter Hall of the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in the state capital Lucknow, is all set to witness the grand launch of the third edition of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) Uttar Pradesh 2022, on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Jayanti on Friday, May 05, 2023. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath will be the Chief Guest at the meticulously planned one-hour forty minute (1.40 hrs) event along with the Hon. Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, Shri. Anurag Thakur.

The KIUG Uttar Pradesh 2022 launch ceremony will witness the unveiling of the games Logo, Anthem, Jersey, Mascot and Torch in order, in what will be a high-tech event infused with cultural elements and interspersed with speeches of attending dignitaries.

Among other dignitaries expected to grace the occasion are Shri. Nisith Pramanik, Hon. Minister of State, Home Affairs and Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of India, Shri. Girish Chandra Yadav, Hon. Sports Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Shri. Durga Shankar Mishra, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh and Shri. Navneet Sehgal, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Prof Suranjan Das, President, Association of Indian Universities and Smt. Sujata Chaturvedi, IAS, Secretary, Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of India, are also expected to be present along with eminent sportspersons from the state.

Speaking ahead of the event, Shri. Navneet Sehgal, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Sports & Youth Welfare, PRD, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, said, “We look forward to this momentous occasion for the state when a multi-sport event of this scale is being organised for the first time ever. Under the visionary guidance of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri. Yogi Adityanath, we are confident of hosting the most successful KIUG event ever.

"The Hon. Chief Minister’s vision for sports and sportspersons of the state has brought about a sea-change among the youth here who are today earning laurels for the country with increasing regularity on the international stage. These games are in further pursuance of that vision.”

Following the unveilings, the Hon’ble Chief Minister is also expected to flag off four canters which will accompany four torch relays across the length and breadth of India’s largest state, before returning back to the capital on the day of the opening ceremony on May 25, 2023.

The 12-day-long games will be held in the cities of Varanasi, Noida, and Gorakhpur, besides the state capital of Lucknow and Delhi as mentioned earlier. The Kabaddi competition begins in Noida on May 23, 2023, while a few others begin at the various venues on May 24, 2023, as well.