From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 22: The Jayaprakash Narayan National Youth Centre at Vidyanagar in Bengaluru was dedicated by union minister of state for youth affairs and sports Kiran Rijiju as the Khelo India Centre for Excellence in the state on Tuesday.

Chief minister B S Yediyurappa presided over the function held in Bengaluru, in which the union minister participated through virtual mode.

The centre has recognized the Sports Youth Centres of eight states as the Centres of Excellence for states.

The Bengaluru centre will provide training to sportspersons in swimming, athletics and shooting.

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Kiran Rijiju said the centre has embarked on a programme for winning the maximum number of medals in the Olympic Games being held at Los Angeles in 2028. Efforts are being made to provide the best infrastructure and sports facilities in select states to bring sports to the forefront in India.

Sports ministers from Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha and Telangana as well as state youth empowerment and sports department additional chief secretary Dr Shalini Rajnish, Arjuna award winner and Olympian shooter P N Prakash and hockey player V R Raghunath participated in the programme.

Yediyurappa, in his speech, emphasized that the state government has accorded the highest priority for providing best sports facilities and said the national recognition from the union government would give further boost to sports in Karnataka.

The chief minister said Karnataka has identified 32 sportspersons with the capability of winning Olympic medals for providing intensive coaching and training. The sportspersons are chosen from among the sports hostels and other associations in the State.