Ludhiana, Feb. 2 -- The renowned Kila Raipur Rural Olympics, known for its electrifying showcase of rural and athletic sports, kicked off on Friday with a noticeable dip in youth participation in athletic events. Coaches and athletes attributed the decline to the ongoing National Games in Uttarakhand, which has drawn top-tier competitors away from the local arena.

In addition to the scheduling conflict, athletes raised concerns over subpar field conditions, which deterred many athletes from competing just days before the national championships.

National-level athlete Jashan Singh said, "No one wants to suffer injuries before the nationals, which is our priority. That's the main reason why many top athletes have opted out of these games ...