Lucknow

Lucknow is all set for a magnificent opening ceremony to usher in the third edition of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) on Thursday, which is now India's biggest multi-sport competition at the higher education level.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the chief guest for the event, will virtually inaugurate the 10-day sports extravaganza to be organised in UP.

Around 4,900 players from 208 universities of the country will participate in the event, said an official.

'Jeetu', inspired by Barasingha, the state animal of UP is the games mascot.

More than five lakh people participated in the torch rally in Uttar Pradesh that was flagged off by the Chief Minister on May 5. Cultural events, yoga sessions and awareness about sports marked these rallies across the state.

The competitions will conclude on June 3 with the closing ceremony planned in Varanasi. Four cities of UP - Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Noida - will play host to various sports events with Delhi's Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range hosting the shooting competition.

The rowing competition, to be held at Ramgarh Taal in Gorakhpur, will also ensure the debut of water sports in this edition of the KIUG. A total 1,900 medals will be at stake (600 gold, 600 silver and 700 bronze).

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Prominent national level athletes, who will be seen in action in this edition of the KIUG, are the likes of Manu Bhaker, Hriday Hazarika, Mehuli Ghosh, Arjun Babuta and Sift Kaur Samra in shooting; Diya Chitale and Ananya Basak in  table tennis; SK Sahil in football; Aneesh Gowda in swimming; Malvika Bansod in badminton; Kabir Hans in tennis; Yash Ghangas in judo and Anshu Malik and Sagar Jaglan in wrestling, among others.