Khelo India University Games: PM Modi advises athletes to view setbacks as opportunities to learn
Around 4,500 athletes from around 200 universities will compete at the Khelo India University Games in North East.
Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday advised the country's young athletes not to worry about defeats but consider them as 'opportunities to learn', in a message during the inauguration of Khelo India University Games. Prime Minister Modi conveyed his best wishes to the athletes and complimented them for creating a grand image of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' in Guwahati.
“Play with all your heart, play fearlessly, win for yourself and your team, and even if you lose, don't worry. Every setback is an opportunity to learn,” the Prime Minister said in his video message. The Khelo India University Games will be held in the seven states in the Northeast. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur inaugurated the Khelo India University Games here on Monday.
Noting that the mascot of the Khelo India University Games is the Ashtalakshmi in the form of a butterfly, Prime Minister Modi said, “Making a butterfly as a mascot in these games also symbolizes how the aspirations of the North East are gaining new wings. ”
He emphasized the need to learn from the rich sporting culture in the Northeast region. Speaking about his government's nationwide sports initiatives, he said, “I am happy to witness the sporting events being organized in all corners of India, from the North to the South and from the West to the East.”
Besides the ongoing Khelo India University Games in the Northeast, he mentioned Khelo India Winter Games in Ladakh, Khelo India Youth Games in Tamil Nadu and Beach Games in Diu. Modi focused on the changing societal views on sports and highlighted the shift in parental attitudes. He noted that parents were previously hesitant to involve their children in sports activities for fear it would distract them from academics.
He highlighted the evolving mindset where parents now take pride in their children's achievements in sports, be it at the state, national or international level. “Just as academic achievement is celebrated, we must develop a tradition of honoring those who excel in sports,” the Prime Minister said in a PIB release.
Reflecting on the values instilled through sports, Modi said, “Success in sports requires more than just talent; it requires temperament, leadership, teamwork and resilience.” Thakur informed that the 4th Khelo India University Games will feature 4,544 athletes from across the country, competing at 18 different locations across the northeastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura.
The athletes will compete in 20 sporting disciplines, including athletics, rugby, swimming, badminton, hockey and football. He also said that as part of the government's mission to promote a fit India, yoga and traditional sports like Mallakhamb have also been included in the Games.