6th Edition of Khelo India Youth Games

Context

Khelo India Youth Games 2024, the sixth edition of the flagship event under the Indian government’s Khelo India initiative, concluded on January 31, 2024.

Khelo India Youth Games 2024

1. Over 5,600 athletes from across the country participated in the games.
2. Mascot: Veera Mangai (Indian queen who waged a war against British colonial rule).
3.  Host State and Venues: Tamil Nadu hosted KIYG 2024 in four cities: Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, and Coimbatore.
4.  Medal Tally and Champions

1. Maharashtra emerged as the overall champions, defending their KIYG title with 57 gold, 48 silver, and 53 bronze medals. This marked Maharashtra's fourth KIYG title.
2. Tamil Nadu secured their best-ever finish, claiming the second position with 38 gold, 21 silver, and 39 bronze medals.
3. Haryana finished third with 35 gold, 22 silver, and 46 bronze medals.

5. Medal Breakdown: A total of 926 medals were up for grabs across 26 sports, comprising 278 gold, 278 silver, and 370 bronze medals.
6.  New Inclusions and Demonstrations

1. Squash made its debut in KIYG 2024.
2. Silambam, an indigenous martial art, was featured as a demonstration sport.

About Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG)

1. KIYG is a pan-Indian multi-disciplinary sports competition.
2. Annual National-Level Events:

1. KIYG are yearly national-level multidisciplinary sports events hosted in India.
2. Part of the broader Khelo India Programme.

3. Objective

1. Reviving Grassroots Sports Culture
2. Aims to rejuvenate India’s grassroots sports culture.
3. Strives to build a robust framework for all sports.
4. Establishes India as a prominent sporting nation.

4. First Edition: The first edition of KIYG took place in 2018 in Delhi.
5. Previous editions of the Youth Games -Delhi, Pune, Guwahati, Panchkula and Bhopal.
6. Categories of Participants: Two main categories: under-17 school students and under-21 college students.
7. Talent Identification and Support:

1. Talented players in priority sports, identified by the High-Powered Committee, receive significant support.
2. Awardees are granted INR 5 lakh annually for a duration of 8 years.
3. Encourages long-term athlete development and sustained excellence.

About Khelo India Program

Aspect	Details
Introduction to Khelo India Programme	Government initiative to boost sports growth in India. The initiative began with the Khelo India School Games in 2018 held in New Delhi. Formed by merging Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme, and National Sports Talent Search System.
Types of Khelo India Events	Khelo India Youth Games Khelo India University Games Khelo India Winter Games
Objectives of Khelo India Programme	Accomplish smooth sports transition for international representation. Promote Sports for Excellence and Sports for All. Encourage widespread sports participation.
Verticals of Khelo India Programme	12 verticals designed, including Playfield Development, Talent Search, Sports for Women, and more.
Scholarship and Recognition	Each athlete receives Rs lakh annually for 8 years. Sports scholarships for 1000 deserving athletes annually.
Age Criteria	Open to candidates aged 10 to 18.
Benefits of Khelo India Programme	Involves marginalized and disadvantaged communities in sports activities. Elevates the standard of competition in educational institutions. Leverages technology to promote and advance sports. Prioritizes social inclusivity and gender equality in sports participation.

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