Guwahati, the Gateway to the Northeast, will take centre stage as it hosts the fourth edition of the Khelo India University Games -Ashtalakshmi 2023 between February 19 and 29.

Over 4,500 athletes representing more than 200 universities from across the nation are set to take part in 20 different disciplines that will be held across 18 venues, in seven cities of the NorthEast. The tournament will provide a good platform for university athletes to compete with the best among them for glory.

The logo and mascot that depict the Northeastern States will be launched, along with the theme song and the jerseys, at a ceremony in Guwahati on Thursday by state Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and Nisith Pramanik, Minister of State for Sports.

The Khelo India University Games – Ashtalakshmi 2023 will feature an array of sporting disciplines including Athletics, Rugby, Basketball, Volleyball, Swimming, Badminton, Hockey, Fencing, Kabaddi, Football, Tennis, Mallakhamb, Judo, Table Tennis, Boxing, Shooting, Weightlifting, Archery, Wrestling, and Yogasana, the event embodies the essence of unity in diversity.

As many as 16 of 20 disciplines are likely to be conducted across various venues in Assam, with the Sarusajai Sports Complex in Guwahati being the epicentre of the major sporting extravaganza. Among the other possible venues in the state are the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium at the Sarusajai Sports Complex, the Karmabir Nabin Chandra AC Indoor Stadium, the Dr Zakir Hussain Aquatics Complex, Maulana Md Tayabullah Hockey Stadium, the Chachal Sports Complex and Nehru Stadium. The LNIPE in Sonapur and the Guwahati University ground are the other possible venues, where some disciplines are expected to be held.

Besides Assam, the other North Eastern states are also expected to play a part in hosting the KIUG, with a few key sporting disciplines likely to be played in the other states. While archery is likely to be hosted at the SAI Archery Range at the NEHU Campus near Shillong, weightlifting is likely to be held in Itanagar. Similarly, the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Kohima is likely to witness wrestling action while Agartala is expected to play host to the Yogasana events. Aizawl, on the other hand, is likely to conduct men’s football event, while Gangtok is likely to have the men’s boxing events.