THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
In a bid to put up a spirited show at the upcoming Khelo India Youth Games 2019, the Kerala government has decided to constitute a KYIG Cell to monitor the coaching camps for various disciplines and all other aspects of teams’ participation in the second edition of national-level sporting extravaganza being held at Pune in Maharashtra from January 9-20.
An order to this effect was issued early this week following directions from Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, E P Jayarajan. The KYIG (Khelo India Youth Games) Cell will be constituted by the Director, Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA), from among the competent coaches and other staff of G.V. Raja Sports School and Sports Division Kannur.
The KYIG Cell would be mandated to “monitor the coaching camps and all aspects of participation/performance of teams in the KIYG.” Coaching camps for the selected teams will commence within a week of the finalization of teams. In addition, the services of sports psychologists and physiotherapists will also be utilized for the benefit of participating sports persons.
Officials who have previously managed a winning team at the national level will be preferably nominated as team managers. The Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs and Kerala State Sports Council coaches, who have a successful track record and expertise in holding national coaching camps, will coach the selected athletes.
The KIYG squad will consist of supporting staff headed by the Medical Officer (Sports Medicine), Rajiv Gandhi Sports Medicine Centre (RGSMC); four sports physiotherapists (including two female staff); and three sports psychologists (including one female staff). Professionals who served teams from the state during the National Games 2015 (held in Kerala) and personnel from Department of Physical Education of universities of Kerala will be given preference.
The state government has also decided to make arrangements for video-recording of training at the coaching camps and performance at different venues of the games, which will be made available to the team coaches for effective video analysis and upgrading the performance of teams.
The DSYA Director will nominate a Chef-de-Mission and a vice Chief-de-Mission, and the nominations are to be made on the basis of their past performance. Also, an Observer with international-level participation is to be nominated in the ad hoc selection committees of the disciplines, whose state associations are presently suspended / disaffiliated by Kerala State Sports Council. List of selected team members are to be furnished to the government immediately on completion of the selection trials.
The Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Mhalunge-Balewadi at Pune is to host the second edition of KYIG. The inaugural event, then known as Khelo India School Games, was held in Delhi in 2018 and it was only for the U-17 age group. But in the second edition, U-21 athletes are also participating in 18 disciplines as compared to last edition’s 16. Table tennis and tennis have been added this year.
