Anju Bobby George, the primary Indian athlete to make a podium end within the World Athletics when she received the bronze medal within the 2003 showpiece, is upbeat that the Khelo India Youth Video games (KIYG) can ultimately bridge the much-needed hole between grassroots programme and critical competitors in athletics. The upcoming version of the Khelo India Youth Video games shall be held in 27 disciplines throughout eight cities in Madhya Pradesh and can get underway right here with a vibrant opening ceremony on January 30.
The monitor & area occasions of KIYG 2022, a three-day affair, shall be held at T.T. Nagar Stadium in Bhopal from February 3-5 and is anticipated to see some carefully contested occasions. The opposite cities which can play hosts within the central India state are Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Mandla, Khargone (Maheshwar) and Balaghat.
Anju a member of the Union authorities’s Mission Olympic cell answerable for choosing athletes for the TOPS (Goal Olympic Podium Scheme), the 45-year-old lengthy soar ace feels that the Khelo India scheme varieties the muse of a pyramid construction by way of grooming expertise.
“It’s an distinctive undertaking with the suitable intent from Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi and the Sports activities ministry, and it has already began producing the outcomes. It’s nonetheless a steady course of and now we have to construct on it,’’ Anju informed the KIYG media throughout an interview.
“The Video games are providing younger kids as much as 18-years a type of publicity in entrance of talent-hunters which beforehand didn’t exist. The athletes who make the minimize are supplied with authorities funding for coaching and likewise get an out-of-pocket allowance, which supplies them an enormous sense of delight,’’ she mentioned.
Anju additionally the Vice President of Athletics Federation of India, earned a uncommon feather in her cap when World Athletics – the world governing physique of the game – conferred her with the Girl of the 12 months award of their annual awards gala in 2021 for her contribution within the sport and a number one voice of gender equality in sport.
Every self-discipline in KIYG is monitored by a bunch of spotters, who’re entrusted with the job of adopting promising individuals as Khelo India Athletes on the idea of their efficiency within the KIYG, Nationwide Championships and open choice trials. The most recent figures launched by Union Sports activities Ministry final December says that 2841 athletes have been chosen from 21 sports activities disciplines to this point.
“The promising athletes have an opportunity to make the subsequent grade for Nationwide Centres of Excellence (NCOE) tasks of Sports activities Authority of India after which be in line for the nationwide camp and ultimately the TOPS scheme in the event that they present the potential to that degree,’’ Anju mentioned.
In 2016, Anju opened a coaching academy for younger ladies in Bengaluru, which has already helped to supply a world U20 medallist in lengthy jumper Shaili Singh within the 2021 version. Requested if her academy is getting into any individuals within the KIYG, Anju introduced: ‘’Six of my academy ladies has been registered in monitor & area occasions within the Video games in Madhya Pradesh in lengthy soar, triple soar and hurdles. They may get an opportunity to rub shoulders with a few of the Indian athletes, and that’s an enormous plus by itself.’’
The expansion within the variety of disciplines over previous 5 editions – from 18 within the first version in New Delhi to 27 in Madhya Pradesh – exhibits that the stakeholders of KIYG are able to develop the horizons. Hima Das, the quickest girl within the nation, had been part of sturdy fields in monitor & area occasions in earlier editions and was the torchbearer of the Video games when it passed off in her dwelling state Assam (2019) whereas Dutee Chand stood out with a 100m gold within the Khelo India College Video games in Bengaluru in 2021. Shooter Mehuli Ghosh and weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga are among the many main rising Indian athletes who first broke by from this platform.
The upcoming version in Madhya Pradesh will see water sports activities being included for the primary time with canoe slalom, kayaking, canoeing and rowing – which shall be held on the MP Water Sport Academy on Higher Lake in Bhopal.
Tags: Anju Bobby George, Bhopal, Khelo India, KIYG, KIYG 2022
