Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the significance of the Khelo India Beach Games as a unique platform for athletes to demonstrate their skills amidst natural beauty. The second edition of the Games is scheduled to take place at Blue Flag Ghoghla Beach from January 5 to 10, featuring over 2,100 participants competing in eight sports. Organized by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, the Games are under the technical supervision of the Sports Authority of India and national sports federations.
More than 1,100 athletes will partake in beach volleyball, beach soccer, beach sepak takraw, beach kabaddi, pencak silat, open water swimming, mallakhamb, and tug of war, with the first six being medal sports offering a total of 32 gold medals. In the previous edition, Manipur, Maharashtra, and Nagaland secured the top three positions in the medal standings, each clinching five gold medals, with final rankings based on silver medals.
Dr. Mandaviya emphasized the excitement generated by the inaugural Khelo India Beach Games, providing athletes with new avenues to enjoy their favorite sports. This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of fostering a robust sporting culture to promote the well-being of the youth. The Minister announced plans to introduce more Khelo India events in 2026, aiming to unify the nation through sports and foster healthy competition.
The Khelo India events are in accordance with the Khelo Bharat Niti, aiming to make sports a widespread movement and an integral part of society. These events, including the Beach Games, serve as a platform to showcase India’s natural beauty to the global audience through sports. The opening ceremony of the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 is set to take place at Ghoghla Beach, with the presence of dignitaries like Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep, Shri Praful Patel, and Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha.
Teams from 29 states and Union Territories have started arriving in Diu for the Games, with the competition kicking off with beach kabaddi and beach soccer matches. Haryana dominated beach kabaddi in the previous edition, while Kerala men and Odisha women secured gold medals in beach soccer. The Khelo India Beach Games fall under the sports competition and talent development vertical of the Khelo India Scheme, aiming to popularize beach sports and enhance the appeal of disciplines played on sand and in water bodies.
