The ongoing Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2022 is turning out to be a opportune platform for up-and-coming athletes from around the country. Giving wings to sports enthusiasts from remote areas on a national level, the KIUG is helping young athletes aim high.
This is the story of one such athlete — the Fencing prodigy Chingakham Jetlee Singh — who made it, all the way from Manipur to Pune’s Army Sports Institute (ASI) at merely 15 years of age.
Six years later, Jetlee, who has done the country proud numerous times with his accolades, is all set to showcase his athletic prowess at the games, as a representative of Guru Nanak Dev University.
Jetlee’s athletic journey
He is a first-year student of the university and is currently training at SAI ASI Pune, where he has been since 2016.
“In 2014, I won a medal in a national event. A trial was organized at SAI ASI Pune the following year, in which I performed well and got selected. Since 2016, I have been practicing in Pune,” he talks about his journey.
Son of a humble fast-food dhaba owner in Manipur, Jetlee says he is confident about his performance at the KIUG 2022. The young athlete, who has admired the sport of fencing since childhood, is excited about his second Khelo India University Games. His bigger aim in life, though, is to win a medal for India in the Olympics.
Jetlee’s 2nd KIUG affair
Amongst his various accolades, Jetlee was named as a TOPS Development Athlete in 2022. Besides, he has also competed at the international level, including at Commonwealth Championship 2022 where he garnered a gold medal. The 21-year-old also bagged two gold medals (both in individual and team events) at KIUJ last year in Bengaluru.
Expecting a turnover of more than 4,000 participants, the KIUG-2022 will go on till June 3 in cities of Lucknow, Delhi, Varanasi, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Gorakhpur. This is the third edition of the games, a grand sports fest, which will see some 207 varsities competing in 21 events sparsed across 12 days.
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