New Delhi, 09 November (H.S.): Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday announced the complete schedule for the Khelo India Youth Games 2026, which will be held across Telangana from December 11 to 22. The event will feature a total of 28 sports, comprising 27 competitive disciplines and one demonstration sport. Telangana will host the prestigious event for the first time in the history of the Khelo India programme.

Hyderabad will host medal events in 22 sports at various venues, including the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium complex in Basheerbagh and the state-of-the-art Gachibowli Sports Complex. The remaining disciplines will be hosted across different cities in the state: archery in Khammam, athletics in Hanamkonda, judo in Karimnagar, table tennis in Nizamabad and kabaddi in Mahabubnagar.

Expressing his enthusiasm over the announcement, Dr. Mandaviya said, I am delighted to announce the schedule for the Khelo India Youth Games 2026. This will mark the beginning of a series of Khelo India competitions. Over the past few years, these events have provided talented athletes with a platform to showcase their abilities. Subsequently, athletes have been able to pursue excellence through our various schemes.

He added that the Khelo India Youth Games would take place shortly after the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, raising expectations of some outstanding performances at the event.

The 12-day sporting extravaganza is expected to bring together approximately 6,000 athletes and 1,800 support staff. Softball will make its debut as a competitive discipline, while rowing will be included in the Khelo India Youth Games programme for the first time. However, rowing will feature as a demonstration sport and will not be a medal event.

Highlighting the importance of promoting a wider range of sporting disciplines, Dr. Mandaviya said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasised the need to develop India's sporting ecosystem in a manner that would enable the country to participate in a greater number of disciplines at the Olympic Games.

The Prime Minister had also stressed the importance of promoting sports that make use of the country's natural resources, including the sea and mountains, he said.

Rowing is one such sport. We are extremely happy that our rowing athletes will be part of these Games and will help promote the discipline, Mandaviya added.

**Maharashtra Won the Previous Edition in Bihar**

The previous edition of the Khelo India Youth Games was held in Bihar from May 3 to 15, 2025. Maharashtra emerged as the overall champion, securing 158 medals, comprising 58 gold, 47 silver and 53 bronze medals. This marked Maharashtra's fifth Khelo India Youth Games title and its third consecutive triumph.

Two-time champions Haryana finished second with 117 medals, including 39 gold, 27 silver and 51 bronze. Rajasthan secured third place with 60 medals, comprising 24 gold, 12 silver and 24 bronze.

The Bihar edition also witnessed the setting of 26 records, including eight by female athletes. Among these were five national youth records in weightlifting.

27 Competitive Sports at the Telangana Edition

The 27 competitive disciplines scheduled for the Telangana edition are archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, fencing, football, Gatka, gymnastics, hockey, judo, kabaddi, Kalaripayattu, kho-kho, Mallakhamb, rowing, shooting, swimming, softball, table tennis, tennis, Thang-Ta, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and Yogasana.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar