New Delhi, May 21 (Agency) The Sports Ministry on Friday sanctioned Rs 20.67 crores to Haryana to host the fourth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), scheduled to be held in November this year. Panchkula will host the annual under-18 national-level sports competition, which will also see 5 indigenous games make their debut at the KIYG 2021. In total, athletes will compete in 25 disciplines during the government’s flagship event. “As part of the partnership between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Haryana Government, the Sports Ministry has sanctioned Rs 20.67 crores to organise the Games,” the ministry said in a statement. Sports Minster Kiren Rijiju applauded Haryana’s strong sporting culture and said the Games will help in strengthening the sports ecosystem of the state.
“I am very happy that the Games will be held in Panchkula in Haryana this year,” he said. “The existing sporting infrastructure in the state is very good and more infrastructure is being developed for the Games and I am confident athletes will have a very good experience,” he added. Talented players selected under the Khelo India scheme, a grassroot-level talent identification program, are given an annual scholarship of Rs 6.28 lakhs, which includes an out-of-pocket allowance of Rs 10,000 a month. The first edition of the event was held here in 2018 under the banner of Khelo India School Games. Thereafter, it was renamed as the Khelo India Youth Games. Maharashtra and Guwahati hosted the 2019 and 2020 editions respectively.