Some of India’s top athletes such as Asian Games medalist sprinter Dutee Chand, swimmer Srihari Nataraj and shooting duo of Divyansh Singh Panwar and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar will headline the second edition of Khelo University Games India, from here on Saturday.
KIUG 2021, delayed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will see more than 4,000 athletes from more than 200 universities compete for the top prize in 20 disciplines.
A total of 257 gold medals will be up for grabs in archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, fencing, football, field hockey, judo, kabaddi, shooting, swimming, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and karate. .
Indigenous sports – mallakhamb and yogasana – have been added as special attractions this year.
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The Games will be held at five venues in Bengaluru – Jain Global University Campus (11 disciplines), Jain Sports School (badminton, tennis, football and table tennis), Kanteerava Stadium Complex (basketball and Athletics), Field Marshal Cariappa Hockey Stadium, and Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Center of Excellence (Shooting).
Nataraj who will represent the host Jain University, Dutee from KIIT University, badminton star Sai Pratheek also from the host university, archer Tanisha Verma, tennis ace Lohithaksha Bathrinath are among the notable athletes taking part.
TOPS Development Athletes Jeswin Aldrin (Long Jump), Yashveer (Javelin Throw), Sandra Babu (Long Jump), Ancy Sojan (Long Jump), Aman (Wrestling), Madhu Vedwan (Recurve Archery) , Unnati (judo), Vinka and Sachin Siwach (boxing), Maisnam Meiraba and Shikha Gautam (badminton) and Oinam Jubraj (fencing) will also be there.
“It’s great that new events have been added this time around, especially the indigenous sports that we don’t see in the major leagues. I’m pretty excited to follow these events closely,” Nataraj said.
Reflecting his excitement, Dutee said, “I am really happy that KIUG is coming back to Jain University this year. Many young athletes from universities across the country will be competing this year. This will help developing athletes to make India proud on the biggest stages.
On the opening day, the hosts Jain University will begin their basketball campaign against SRM University, while the men’s and women’s post, rope and suspension mallakhamb will begin at the University’s global campus Jain with volleyball matches in their large indoor arena.
The badminton events will start at the Jain Sports School, while the men’s 10m air rifle, women’s 25m pistol and trap shooting events will start at the Sports Authority of India.
The Games will see defending champions Panjab University and Savitribai Phule Pune University face off intensely. They are among the most represented universities.
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