DW BUREAU / Panchkula Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the grand opening of Khelo India Youth Games-2021 from Panchkula today in the presence of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal. The Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex was lit up with vibrant colorful lights during the inauguration ceremony. The programme started with the National Anthem by the Army Band. During this, Union Sports Minister, Sh. Anurag Thakur attended the programme as a special guest. Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex will witness the stamina and hardwork of the players to fetch medals for the next 10 days. Over 4,700 athletes including 2,262 girls will fight for gold and glory in 25 exciting sports including 5 traditional sports. Popular Punjabi and Hindi Rapper Dilin Nair, popularly known as Raftaar, performed as a showstopper during the opening ceremony, enthralling the packed stadium. Raftaar enlivened the evening with his magical Khelo India anthem 'Ab Ki Baar Haryana', leaving everyone cheering. The popular mascots of Khelo India Youth Games, Vijaya the Tiger and Jaya the Blackbuck danced in the arena. However, the loudest applause and enthusiasm was seen for Haryana's own mascot 'Dhaakad the Bull'. It was taken to the stadium on a tractor with the anthem 'Hum, Hum, Hum- Khelo India'. For the first time in the Khelo India Games, a state-wide torch relay was also organised by Haryana. The specially designed canters toured all the districts and promoted sports and encouraged children to take up sports. The flame was lit after a dramatic entry into the stadium, from where the torch relay was flagged off 25 days earlier. During this, the athletes took an Olympic style oath to respect and follow the rules of the game and vowed to keep the spirit of fair play. Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal while welcoming and felicitating Union Home Minister, Amit Shah for his arrival in Haryana said that today is a proud day when such a grand sports festival has started on the land of Haryana. He praised the Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister, Sh. Anurag Thakur, Haryana's Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Sh. Sandeep Singh, Sports Authority of India as well as Haryana Sports Department and other teams for this successful event. Giving a message to all the players participating in these games, the Chief Minister said that players should keep sportsmanship paramount and play with great enthusiasm. Winning or losing in the game does not matter much, what matters is how you play. Participation in sports competitions is very important, said Sh. Manohar Lal. The Chief Minister also wished the players to achieve new heights in their lives. On this occasion, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sh. Anurag Singh Thakur, Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala, Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Sh. Gian Chand Gupta, Home and Health Minister, Sh. Anil Vij, Power Minister, Sh. Ranjit Singh, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister, Sh. J.P Dalal, Cooperation Minister, Dr Banwari Lal, Urban Local Bodies Minister, Dr Kamal Gupta, MP, Sh. Rattan Lal Kataria, Deputy Speaker Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Sh. Ranbir Singh Gangwa and others were also presnt. (editor@dailyworld.in)