Torch of Khelo India Youth Games handed over to CM Chouhan
| Date :21-Oct-2022 |
Staff Reporter
Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Anurag Thakur announced the 5th Khelo India Youth Games 2022 in New Delhi on Thursday. Union Minister Thakur handed over the torch of Khelo India Youth Games 2022 to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the announcement programme held at Ashok Hotel Delhi on Thursday. Madhya Pradesh will host Khelo India Youth Games.
Chief Minister Chouhan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur for giving the opportunity to host the Khelo India Games in MP and said that a new revolution will come in the direction of sports in MP.
Chouhan said that the determination with which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has entrusted the responsibility of Khelo India Youth Games to MP we will fulfill it with full dedication. This event will be organised in 8 cities of the State Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Mandla, Maheshwar and Balaghat from January 31 to February 11.
Union Minister Thakur said that this time Khelo India Youth Games 2022 will be organised in the heart of the country, MP. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Chouhan, the environment of sports has been created in MP, due to which many sports talents have brought laurels to India by showcasing their talent at national and international level. Thakur said that Mallakhamb was once a part of the history of India, today it has been included in Khelo India game. Everywhere this game has been lauded and promoted. It was the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that we should not only promote the Olympic Games, but also take forward the traditional sports. He greeted Chouhan and Sports Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia for making Mallakhamb, a state sport.
Union Sports Minister Thakur said that earlier there was indifference towards sports, now parents are motivating their children and are themselves joining sports to stay fit. Chouhan said that Khelo India Youth Games would be organised in Madhya Pradesh in such a way that not only the whole of India but the world would also see it. The CM said that we will try to fully live up to the trust shown by Prime Minister Modi. He said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, due to Khelo India, budding sports talents are coming from villages. India is now doing wonders in the field of sports.
Chief Minister Chouhan said, “I welcome everyone in the heart of the country, Madhya Pradesh. We will organise Khelo India Youth Games with heart. The tradition of India is ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, the guest who is ours is more dear to us than life. We will take care of our players more than our lives.” Chief Minister Chouhan said that the biggest work that Prime Minister Modi has done is to change the psyche of the country. Earlier, there was such an environment in our country that people used to say jokingly, Oh this is India, nothing can happen here. PM Modi has proved that India can do everything and can do it in every field. A magnificent, glorious, prosperous and powerful India has been built by his efforts.
Chouhan said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India is now doing wonders in sports too. We have also made efforts in Madhya Pradesh. In the year 2003, the sports budget was Rs 5 crores, which has now increased to Rs 350 crores. 11 academies of 18 sports have been established in the state. The children of our academies are doing wonders. He said that we have tried to make the sports infrastructure in MP of international standard. Players not only have basic facilities in the academy but also have stadium, mini stadium, coaching and training facilities in every district.
Chouhan said that various sports competitions are being organised at the gram panchayat level to maintain the environment of sports in Madhya Pradesh. Competitions for the elderly have also been organised in this. He said that for the first time in the Khelo India Youth Games, the traditional game Malkhamb has also been included. Malkhamb is the state game of Madhya Pradesh. The performance of our players in this sport is one of the best in the country. He informed that on the foundation day of Madhya Pradesh, sports competitions will be held in every village from November 3 to 7. There was a time when the name of Madhya Pradesh was not found in National Games, but now our players are performing well. This time our players have won 66 medals in National Games, Madhya Pradesh is the overall champion in Malkhamb. Hockey team, be it Men’s hockey or Women’s, cannot be formed without the players of Madhya Pradesh. This is the achievement of the state.
Chouhan said that MP is a wonderful State. Apart from forest, water, mineral wealth, there are temples of Sanchi, Bhimbaithka, Khajuraho, Orchha and Mahakal Lok also in tourism. Players and officials coming to the State can enjoy the natural beauty of Madhya Pradesh and visit tiger reserves as we have become a tiger State. Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia said that it is a moment of great joy and pride that Madhya Pradesh having state-of-the-art and world-class sports facilities has the privilege of hosting the biggest event involving indigenous sports, Khelo India Youth Games. Madhya Pradesh is turning from zero to hero under the leadership of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Today, we are nurturing talents by organising talent search from village to village. In the program, players of Madhya Pradesh’s traditional game Malkhamb and break dancing performed brilliantly in front of the guests. Break dancing has been included as a sport in the Paris Olympics-2024. Along with Union Minister of state for Sports and Youth Affairs Nisith Pramanik officers of central and state sports department were present.