The 36th National Games was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a glittering opening ceremony evening in the presence of over 100,000 ecstatic spectators. In keeping with the Olympic convention, but with a modern twist, Gujarat’s swimming star Maana Patel brought in the symbolic Torch of Unity into the arena and handed it over to the Prime Minister. Watched and applauded by several current and past sports icons, including Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, Olympic medalists PV Sindhu, Ravi Dahiya, Mirabai Chanu, Gagan Narang, former national hockey captain and new HI chief Dilip Tirkey along with World Championship medalist Anju Bobby George, the Prime Minister placed the Torch on the podium for it to be lit by augmented reality.