Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India's joint initiative Khelo India School Games is the aspiration for the youth of the country said the Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore here on Tuesday.
"This (KISG) is the aspiration for all young Indians. One doesn't need to wait for an Olympic; we have a level of competition similar in organisation as the Olympics and we will have it every year. You can live your dream of playing Khelo India games and then Khelo India college games. And subsequently target bigger events such as Commonwealth Games and Asian Games," said the former Olympic silver medallist.
Rathore also explained the rigorous process of scouting and nurturing the best of talent in the country through elite former athletes.
"We also have a wonderful team of people selecting the best athletes. We wanted to get the best athletes themselves to select the best upcoming athletes for the game. That's why we made panel of Arjuna and Dronacharya awardees for all 16 segment of sports. And the selection of players is not limited to these games only; there will be a process of scouting players throughout the year. We will shortlist 1000 players at the end; also selecting the academies where they would receive training from a top-standard coaches. To monitor these things we have our IT department working on it through professional hands. We are also providing coaches’ development program," he said.
Rathore also announced Ministry's plan to host separate championship for girls. "Women sports are given special attention; separate championship will be arranged for that. Also, throughout the country, we are regularly thinking over the development of grounds and bringing more funds for them," he said.
Rathore also vowed to make the event better organised in subsequent editions.
"I am happy that Khelo India School games level has exceeded expectation of many who were not sure about it. They have realised the positive of the games and I hope it would be felt in states too.
"This is first games, and this was also the first time Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India has organised a game alone. Otherwise sports federation used to organise such events. And we have managed to maintain a good standard throughout the games.
Maha move into 2nd spot
Maharashtra picked up three gold medals to move into the second place, even as Haryana, who had two on Tuesday stayed in the top spot of the medals tally in the first Khelo India School Games.
Maharashtra's two gold medals came from Weightlifting through Trupti Mane in Girls 58 kg and Boys 62 kg through Jeremy Lalrinnunga, a Mizoram youngster, who is in the Army Institute in Pune. Their third gold came courtesy judoka, Snehal Khaware in 48 kg for Girls.
Manipur lying way down rose sharply to 6th place with a tidy three gold and two silver haul. Two of their gold medals came from weightlifting where Pothshangbam Umeshwori Devi won girls 63 kg a little after Lamabam Nilam Devi grabbed the top spot in 53 kg. They picked up one gold and two silver in judo. The judoka winning the gold was Thangjam Tababi Devi in 44kg. With two medal packed two days left in the Games, Haryana picked two gold to maintain their lead at the top. They had 22, including two from Judo on Tuesday. Priya topped in Girls 40 kg and Harish won boys 50 kg category. Haryana's third medal of the day was also in judo when Nitesh Kumar won a bronze in boys 55kg.