As many as 4,000 spectators enjoyed the immaculately-conceived ceremony inside the stadium even as scores watched it on LED screens just outside the stadium. The KIUG officially began yesterday with competitions in archery, fencing, football, basketball and volleyball. It is the largest ever multi-discipline sports event being conducted at one venue for University students and hopes to unearth talented sportspersons for India.

Chief Minister Patnaik during his speech said, “It is a moment of great pride for us to be hosting the first edition of the Khelo India University Games, here in Odisha, in association with the Government of India and the KIIT University. Khelo India University Games will provide a great platform to showcase sporting talent at the national level.”

Union Sports Ministter Shri Kiren Rijiju, during his address, said that the people of India will definitely see many international champions coming out of the Khelo India University Games. “I am sure we will find more Olympians and unearth more talent from the Games,” he said.

The opening ceremony was a glittering affair with 390 students performing and showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Odisha. Padmashree Aruna Mohanty choreographed a sequence which showcased dance forms such as Odissi and Sambalpuri.

The torch relay which kick-started the Games was led by India archer Muskan Kirar who passed on the baton to swimmer SP Likith who handed over the torch to former India hockey player Dilip Tirkey who lit the cauldron. The oath taking ceremony for athletes was led by ace sprinter Dutee Chand.

Composer Ram Sampath and Indian singer Sona Mohapatra performed a song which urged athletes to participate with pride during the Games. Musical composer Nakash Aziz motivated the athletes with his song ‘Khelo Khelo’ which talks about taking sports to the next level in India.

The KIUG-2020 boasts of 3,343 athletes (1,738 male, 1605 female) from 159 Universities, plus innumerable technical and support staff. They will compete for glory in 17 sports disciplines: Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Swimming, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Badminton, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Rugby and Kabaddi.

The games will be staged across 10 venues in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KKIIT) will be the main center for the sporting extravaganza. The number of medals up for grabs include 206 Gold, 206 Silver and 286 Bronze. The Games are being telecast live on Star Sports, Hotstar and Doordarshan. The Games have been completely automated from the nomination process to integration of TSR with live telecast.

KIUY-2020 will be conducted on par with any international event with the help of 17 competition managers (one each for every sporting discipline), 740 International and National technical officials (TOs) and 355 sport-specific volunteers (SSVs).

Top universities like Panjab University-Chandigarh, Guru Nanak Dev University-Amritsar, Maharishi Dayanand University-Rohtak, Punjabi University-Patiala and Delhi University Sports Council, Delhi will all be vying for top honours at the first ever Khelo India University Games.
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TOP: Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and Odisha Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera during the opening ceremony of the Khelo India University Games in Cuttack on 22 Feb, 2020.
RIGHT: Artists performing Odissi dance at the opening ceremony of the 1st Khelo India University Games in Cuttack on 22 Feb, 2020.