The mega sports event of the year Khelo India Youth Games has started off with a glitzy opening ceremony.
This year the Games features 20 disciplines with two new additions namely, cycling and lawn ball.
A total of 6,456 athletes from 37 teams will compete in 451 medal events and the coveted prizes under two categories - under-17 school students and under-21 college students.
Assam, as the host state, is having one of the largest contingents with 656 members.
G Plus visited the different venues in the city where the various teams of the Assam contingent are practicing.
The teams from Assam could be seen going through rigorous practice sessions. G Plus caught up with the athletics team at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Sarusajai.
The daily schedules of the athletes begin with a warm-up session and proceeds on to practicing their respective games. They are provided breakfast before heading back to their allotted accommodations.
Earlier, there were two practice sessions in the morning and evening but earlier this week their schedules were set as per the time tables of the actual competition.
Nipon Das, the athletic coach of Assam, said, “The practice sessions now start from 9:00 am instead of the earlier 6:00 am and continue till 7:30 pm. This is done so that the athletes can adapt to the actual competition timings and thereby perform better.”
The sports authority said that proper food and protein supplements have been provided for the athletes.
As the home team and given the large contingent, authorities are hopeful of better performance than the previous years. “We are hoping for gold medals in as many categories as possible,” said an official.
Govinda Kalita, the Kho Kho coach was quoted as saying, “The government of Assam has taken a very good initiative. Every athlete is very dedicated and practicing hard. The earlier camps held for the team were quite helpful. Now the Khelo India training camps are running in full steam. The coaches are also doing their best.”
Apart from the Assam contingent, the other big teams are from Haryana with 682 members, Maharashtra with 579 members and Delhi with 450 members.
Khelo India
A detailed chart of the Assam contingent:
|
Details of Assam State Team |
||||||
|
|
|
U-17 |
U-21 |
Total |
||
|
SL NO |
Event |
Boys |
Girls |
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
1 |
Athletics |
12 |
11 |
14 |
11 |
48 |
|
2 |
Archery |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
|
3 |
Badminton |
Single-1, Double-2 |
Single-1, Double-2 |
Single-1, Double-1 |
Single-1, Double-1 |
9 |
|
4 |
Basketball |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
48 |
|
5 |
Boxing |
9 |
10 |
8 |
8 |
35 |
|
6 |
Cycling |
5 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
20 |
|
7 |
Football |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
72 |
|
8 |
Judo |
6 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
23 |
|
9 |
Kho Kho |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
48 |
|
10 |
Gymnastics |
7 |
Rhy-3 N-5 |
7 |
Rhy-3 N-5 |
30 |
|
11 |
Hockey |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
72 |
|
12 |
Kabaddi |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
48 |
|
13 |
Lawn Ball |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
|
14 |
Shooting |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
|
15 |
Swimming |
9 |
10 |
9 |
5 |
33 |
|
16 |
Table Tennis |
Single-1’ Double-2 |
Single-1 Double-2 |
Single-1, Double-2 |
Single-1, Double-2 |
12 |
|
17 |
Tennis |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
12 |
|
18 |
Volleyball |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
48 |
|
19 |
Weightlifting |
10 |
8 |
7 |
10 |
35 |
|
20 |
wrestling |
F/S-5, G/R-4 |
F/S -7 |
F/S-7 G/R-7 |
F/S-7 |
37 |
Total Participant: 656
