Northeast Desk, 24th February: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio inaugurated the 4th Khelo India University Games (KIUG-Asthalaxmi) wrestling event at the Indira Gandhi Stadium. Nagaland is hosting the KIUG-Asthalaxmi wrestling event, featuring freestyle and Greco-Roman style for men and freestyle for women, with grapplers from around 100 universities representing eight zones of the country participating.
Addressing the gathering, Rio highlighted the significance of KIUG, tracing its inception back to Odisha in 2020 following the success of Khelo India School Games and Khelo India Youth Games. He noted the substantial growth of KIUG, with over 200 universities participating annually, emphasizing its role in fostering aspirational values among budding players and aligning technical conduct with international standards.
Rio underscored the objectives of the games, including talent identification, long-term athlete development, reduction of dropouts, and promotion of a sporting culture. He emphasized the importance of creating a strong linkage between education and sports to nurture champions and enhance sports infrastructure in universities.
Expressing gratitude to the central government, Rio thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for granting Nagaland the opportunity to host the 4th edition of KIUG, particularly in wrestling, a favorite sport among the state’s populace. Approximately 240 athletes and over 80 officials are participating in the wrestling competition, slated to conclude on Sunday.
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