Khelo India is a national programme, launched by the Government of India, for the development of sports in India. Khelo India majorly focuses on improving Indian sports culture at the grassroots level, identifying talent in the early stage, providing structured sporting competitions, and developing national sports infrastructure.
Under the Khelo India programme, we have experienced various initiatives, and these are the Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India University Games, Khelo India Winter Games, and Khelo India Para Games. Here we have brought the differences between these four Khelo India programmes.
Khelo India Youth Games
Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) are India's annual national-level multidisciplinary grassroots events. It was previously known as Khelo India School Games.
Participants: U17 school students to U21 college students can participate in the KIYG. Participants promote their respective state successes.
Key Focus: Identifying young talent at the school & junior level. The best 1000 youths have been chosen every year, and they have been awarded an annual scholarship of ₹5 lakh (US$5,800) for 8 years to help them prepare for the international sporting events.
First Edition: 2018
Sports: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cycling, Fencing, Football, Field hockey, Gatka, Gymnastics, Judo, Kabaddi, Kalaripayattu, Kho-Kho, Mallakhamb, Rugby union, Sepaktakraw, Shooting, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Thang-TA, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Yogasana.
Khelo India University Games
Khelo India University Games (KIUG) are India's annual national-level multi-sport events where participating athletes are from universities.
Participants: University athletes participate in the KIUG. Participants promote their respective university successes.
Key Focus: Sports development at the university level to serve as a bridge to elite competitions.
First Edition: 2020
Sports: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Fencing, Football, Field hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Rugby union, Shooting, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Taekwondo, Karate.
Khelo India Winter Games
Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) are India's annual national-level multidisciplinary grassroots winter games.
Participants: Open to any athletes in the KIWG. Participants promote their respective state successes. Also, the India Army Team participates as a different team, whose athletes challenge other states’ athletes.
Key Focus: It is promoting Indian winter sports culture.
First Edition: 2020
Sports: Skiing, Alpine Skiing, Ice Hockey, Ice Skating, Nordic Skiing, Ski Mountaineering, Snow Boarding, Gondola.
Khelo India Para Games
Khelo India Para Games (KIPG) are India's annual national-level multi-sports events for disabled athletes.
Participants: Disabled athletes participate in the KIPG. Participants promote their respective state successes.
Key Focus: It is promoting inclusivity and nurturing para-athletes.
First Edition: 2023
Sports: Para Archery, Para Athletics, Para Badminton, Para Powerlifting, Para Shooting, Para Table Tennis.
