The 3rd Khelo India Youth Games was inaugurated by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in Guwahati at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Sarusajai on Friday.

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and a host of other dignitaries along with people from all walks of life and sportsperson attended the inauguration.

Around 6500 athletes from across the country have assembled in Guwahati for this prestigious event who will be vying for 451 medal events in 20 sport disciplines.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, “Khelo India Youth Games is a to make sports a priority in the lives of common people of India.”

“The aim of the games is to mainstreaming sport as a tool for individual development, community development, economic development and national development,” he added.

CM Sonowal with Kiren Rijiju (Left) and Hagrama Mohilary (right) waving at the crowd.

He further said that every young and old must adopt sports as a part of their lives.

He also said that sports not only enhance teamwork but also bring a spirit of openness and empower everybody to accept others.

“Sports help develop team spirit, strategic and analytical thinking and leadership skills besides infusing confidence to set goals and take risks,” he added.

“Fit and healthy individuals make an equally healthy society and a strong nation,” he further said.

Sonowal also observed that for a multicultural, multilingual and multi-ethnic country like India, sports and culture have a transformative potential in enabling stronger and deeper people to people ties.

“It has the power in strengthening unity and harmony in society,” he said.

“Continuous interaction, travel for competitions, matches and training gives the sportsmen an opportunity to understand the culture and tradition of other regions of the country,” he further said.

“This contributes immensely to national integration,” the CM reiterated.

“I am confident that the Khelo India Youth Games will further develop such bonhomie amongst the participants,” he reiterated.

“This will also offer an opportunity to make friends with the rich natural beauty of Assam,” he said.

Kiren Rijiju, while speaking on the occasion, said he is confident that the Khelo India Youth Games being held across nine locations and 12 venues would be highly competitive.

“This will also be a powerful display of sporting excellence of the young talents of the country," he said.

"They, in future, will represent India in world sports events,” Rijiju added.

On the occasion, Sonowal released a souvenir christened ‘Brahmaputra’.