Karnataka set to host Khelo India University Games 2021

The Jain University in Bangalore along with other venues will host the Khelo India Games 2021.

Karnataka will be the host state of the second Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2021, scheduled later this year. The announcement was made today by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri BS Yediyurappa and Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri. Kiren Rijiju. The games will be held in Bengaluru's Jain University and other venues in the state, in partnership with Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

KIUG is the largest University Games in the country and is aimed at tapping sporting talent who can represent India in international events, including Olympics. The first edition of KIUG was held in Bhubaneswar in February 2020, and saw a total participation of 3182 athletes in the U-25 age group, across 158 universities and colleges from all states.

This year, Yogasana and Mallakhamb have been added in the University Games, with an effort to preserve and promote the century-old sporting disciplines of the country. With the inclusion of these disciplines, that the athlete participation figure is expected to cross 4000, this year. This year too, the games will be conducted in the U-25 age category in accordance with the World University Games norms.

Speaking about being the host state and assuring the best possible support for the games, Shri Yediyurappa said, “We are privileged to be hosting KIUG 2021, I am confident that the Games will produce some of the best future champions of India. The Govt of Karnataka will leave no stone unturned to make the University games a massive success.”

Envisioning an even larger participation this time around, Shri Rijiju said, “The University Games in Odisha last year was a massive success. Countries that have great sporting performance have often drawn their sporting heroes from the University level athletes. In the US for instance, the University Games are the bedrock of Olympic champions. In India,we need a sustained, focussed plan to identify talent from Universities and I am happy that we have been able to do that with KIUG. This year, with the inclusion of the indigenous games to the competition, I’m hopeful that the number of participants will be even more.”

Speaking about the partnership with KIUG, Baljit Sekhon, General Secretary, AIU said, "KIUG is a clear path to Olympic glory for our athletes. AIU is proud to partner with KIUG and we will also be having AIU's National -level competition at KIUG this year."

Jain University's Chancellor Chenraj Roychand says that hosting KIUG at the university campus is yet another step towards strengthening the University's commitment towards the sport. "Having an opportunity of hosting this national initiative for developing sports is a matter of pride for us at Jain University. The pragmatic approach of our University towards sports programme is ideally in line with the vision of our Honourable PM, who encourages sports to be an integral part of one's daily life."

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