The eighth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games is all set to kick off in Hyderabad starting December 11, bringing a fresh wave of excitement to the national sporting calendar. In a notable addition, sailing will be introduced as a demonstration event alongside 27 competitive sports, an announcement made by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday. The multi-sport event will see thousands of young athletes from across the country converge in Telangana, which is hosting the prestigious tournament for the first time. The competitions will be spread across various venues, offering a vibrant platform for upcoming sports stars to showcase their talent and dedication.
Venues Spread Across Multiple Districts
The capital city of Hyderabad will host 22 sports across its prominent sporting facilities, including the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium complex in Basheerbagh and the modern Gachibowli sports complex. Meanwhile, several other districts of Telangana have been designated to host specific events. Archery matches will be held in Khammam, athletics will take place in Hanamkonda, judo events are scheduled in Karimnagar, table tennis will be hosted in Nizamabad, and kabaddi matches will light up Mahabubnagar. In a strategic shift for the upcoming session, rowing has been included in the competitive sports list, replacing rugby, which was chosen by the previous edition's host, Bihar.
Massive Participation Expected from Athletes and Support Staff
Organizers expect a massive turnout for this year's tournament, with roughly 6,000 athletes and 1,800 support staff members slated to participate. While softball makes its debut as a full competitive sport this season, sailing has secured its place in the Khelo India Youth Games program specifically as a demonstration event. This expansion reflects the growing diversity of disciplines being integrated into grassroots sports development programs across the nation, providing athletes in non-traditional categories a valuable opportunity to gain national exposure.
Aligning with National Vision for Olympic Success
Highlighting the broader objectives behind these inclusions, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya noted the vision outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister has emphasized that the national sports ecosystem must expand in a manner that enables participation in a maximum number of disciplines at the Olympic level. Furthermore, emphasis has been placed on leveraging natural resources such as oceans and mountains to promote adventure and outdoor sports that utilize the country's diverse geographical landscape.
A Promising Future for Sailing in India
Elaborating on the inclusion of the water sport, Mandaviya stated that sailing fits perfectly into this vision and expressed delight that sailing athletes will be part of the games, helping promote the discipline further. The previous edition of the Khelo India Youth Games was held in May of last year, and preparations for the Hyderabad chapter are now in full swing as the sports fraternity eagerly awaits the opening ceremony in December.
