New Delhi, 26 October (H.S.): The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday announced the Indian contingent that will represent the country at the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. A total of 17 Indian athletes will compete across 11 sports, gaining an opportunity to showcase their talent on the international stage, learn from competitors worldwide and take another step forward in their sporting careers.

The Games will be held from October 31 to November 13, marking the first time an Olympic sporting event is being hosted on the African continent. Around 2,700 young athletes from 207 delegations are expected to compete in 25 sports. The Youth Olympic Games are designed for athletes aged up to 17 at the time of the event and combine sporting competition with opportunities for learning and cultural exchange.

For the IOA, the event will also provide an opportunity to strengthen engagement with National Olympic Committees from around the world and exchange ideas on talent identification, athlete development and pathways from youth competition to elite sport. These discussions could help shape India’s sporting plans as the country looks ahead to the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.

The association is also seeking to create stronger and more sustainable opportunities for the next generation of Indian athletes.

During the Games, IOA president Dr P. T. Usha is expected to sign memoranda of understanding on sports cooperation and exchange with National Olympic Committees from several African countries, including Namibia and Mauritius.

The proposed agreements are intended to establish a framework for closer cooperation between the Olympic organisations. Areas of collaboration could include exchanges of athletes and coaches, sharing technical expertise, cooperation in training practices and other fields of mutual interest.

Drawing on the experience gained through these partnerships, the IOA may also explore similar agreements with other National Olympic Committees seeking to strengthen sporting ties with India.

Usha said Dakar 2026 represented an important milestone for India’s young athletes, describing them as the future of Indian sport. She expressed hope that some of the participants could go on to become champions representing India at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and beyond.

“I wish the entire Indian contingent every success and am confident that they will make the country proud,” she said.

Usha also extended her best wishes to the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee and the Senegalese Olympic Committee. She described the hosting of the first Olympic sporting event on African soil as a historic moment for the Olympic Movement, adding that India looked forward to sharing the landmark occasion with Senegal and the wider Olympic community.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar