New Delhi, April 24 (Agency) Drawing several similarities between sports and life with regards to various aspects, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that “sports, in real sense are the genuine support system of life.” The Prime Minister delivered his message virtually at the inauguration of Khelo India University Games in Bengaluru. “The power and the learning that take you forward in sports, the same takes you forward in life. Sports and life both have importance of passion and enthusiasm. The one who embraces challenges in sports and life, emerges winner. Both in sports and life, defeat is also a victory, and defeat is also a lesson.
It is the honesty that takes you forward both in sports and life. Sports and life both have importance of every moment. And more importantly, living in the present moment,” he said. The Prime Minister drew a parallel between sports and life with regards to various aspects such as passion, challenges, learning from defeat, integrity and honesty. “Wearing the victory well and learning from defeat is an important art that we learn in the sports field,” he said. The Prime Minister said that Bengaluru symbolises the youthful enthusiasm of the country and is pride of the professionals. He said that it is significant that a confluence of startups and sports is happening here. “Holding of the Khelo India University Games in Bengaluru will add to the energy of this beautiful city,” he said. The Prime Minister underlined the importance of team spirit as the first mantra of success. “This team spirit we get to learn from sports. You will experience it directly in the Khelo India University Games.
This team spirit also gives us a new way of looking at life,” he said. He said that similarly, holistic approach and 100 percent dedication are the key requirements of success in sports. The Prime Minister reiterated the link between sports power and power of the country as recognition in sports adds to the recognition for the country. He recalled his meeting with Tokyo Olympics contingent and remembered the glow and satisfaction of doing something for the country on the faces of the athletes. The Prime Minister exhorted the players to play for the country while participating in the Games. Introduced in 2020, as part of Khelo India Games to revive sports culture in the country, the second edition of Khelo India University Games is being held from April 24 to May 3, 2022. Khelo India University Games is a national level multi-sports annual event, wherein athletes from different sporting fields from across the country compete in different sporting events.
It is the largest University level sports competition in the country intended to identify and train athletes in the age group 18 to 25 years for the Olympics and the Asian Games. In the present edition of the games, more than 3800 athletes from over 175 Universities are expected to participate. Athletics, Volleyball, Swimming, Basketball, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Kabaddi, Karate and Yogasana will be broadcast live on DD Sports, while Judo, Tennis, Mallakhambh, Archery, Fencing, Football, Table Tennis, Badminton, Hockey, Shooting and Boxing will be broadcast in recorded format. This edition of the games is being conducted in 20 disciplines as opposed to 18 in the first edition, as two indigenous disciplines Yogasana and Mallakhambh have been introduced in this edition for the first time. UNI ASU SHK2038