Bhubaneswar: The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Deemed to be University (KIIT DU), based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, is to play host to the 1st Khelo India University Games 2020, to begin tomorrow.
The opening ceremony of the first edition of Khelo India University Games (KIUG) will be held at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Saturday (February 22). This multi-disciplinary sporting event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through a video conference facility.
According to sources, the games will be played at three venues in Bhubaneswar and the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in the Millennium City. The seven-day tournament will end on March 1.
A dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Khelo India University Games 2020 (KIUG 2020), is the largest of its kind of sports extravaganza of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Government of India.
“Hosting such a coveted event, Odisha undoubtedly is going to script history in the Indian sports,” said Dr Achutya Samanta, Founder, KIIT and KISS, at a press meet, here.
“The PM has been encouraging sports in a big way. As a result, university students are now showing interest in sports”, Dr Samanta added.
According to a press release, KIIT is the only university in India where adequate international standard sports infrastructure and facilities are available. For which government of India decided to pick KIIT to host the Sporting event.
During KIUG, more than 4000 athletes and 1000 officials from approximately 200 universities across country will be accommodated at KIIT.
There will be 17 different events in Khelo India, including individual events like archery, athletics, boxing, fencing, judo, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling and team events such as badminton, basketball, football, hockey, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, rugby and kabaddi.
As many as 100 participants will be taking part in the sporting event, states the press release.
KIIT has, in the past, successfully hosted numerous National and International Games and has created and groomed many internationally acclaimed sports persons.
The Khelo India University Games 2020 has been funded by the Sports Ministry in association with the Odisha government. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and National Sports Federations (NSF) are also supporting the event.
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