The National Kalarippayattu League shall be organised from January 17 at Thiruvananthapuram as part of various initiatives of the Central Government to provide a nationwide platform for the promotion and development of the ancient martial art of Kalarippayattu.

In addition to its inclusion in prestigious events, such as the National Games and the Khelo India Youth Games, the proposed League aims to further strengthening the presence of Kalarippayattu at the National level.

The League is being conducted under the banner of Indian Kalarippayattu Federation (IKF), which is recognized by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). For the past one month, League-related training programs have been successfully conducted across 16 states.

The competition will feature eight major Kalarippayattu events, with participation from boys and girls in the Under-18 category.

A total of eight athletes, selected based on their performance in state-level competitions, will earn the opportunity to participate in the League matches. Children aged between 14 years and 18 years are only eligible for this prestigious event.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) will award prize money, certificates, and medals to the top three performers in each event. The League is scheduled to be held on January 17 and January 18 at SAI LNCPE, Thiruvananthapuram.

Preparations for the even tare in their final stages under the guidance of Dr. Ambu R. Nair, secretary general of the Indian Kalarippayattu Federation. The League will be formally inaugurated by the Union Minister for Sports on January 17 at 10:00 am.

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