Telangana is gearing up to host the Khelo India Youth Games from December 11

Telangana is gearing up to host the eighth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) from December 11 to 22, with over 7,500 young athletes expected to compete in 27 sports.

The Games will be held in six cities — Hyderabad, Warangal, Hanumakonda, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Mahabubnagar — with over 1,500 support staff, 1,000 technical officials and over 200 VIPs expected to attend the event.

Hyderabad will host competitions in 23 disciplines while the remaining events will be spread across district centres. Athletics will be held in Hanumakonda, Judo in Karimnagar, Archery in Khammam, Kabaddi in Mahabubnagar and Table Tennis in Nizamabad.

Rowing has been chosen as the host state sport for Telangana, while sailing will be the showcase sport. The main attraction is expected to be the Hussain Sagar water sports facility where rowing, kayaking and canoeing events will be held.

Competitions will also be held at Gachibowli Stadium, LB Stadium, Saroornagar Indoor Stadium, JNTUH and Secunderabad and Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy Stadium in Yousufguda.

The state government has identified 12 upgradation and development works at 10 sites in Hyderabad and three district host cities. The work includes improvements to the athletes’ changing rooms, spectator facilities and washrooms, in addition to upgrading the swimming pools, cycling tracks, shooting ranges and other facilities on the field.

The opening ceremony is likely to be held at the Gachibowli Stadium on December 11, while the closing ceremony could be held at the tennis complex at the LB Stadium on December 22.

Five committees were established for the overall management of the Games. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will chair the organizing committee, while Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya will be the co-chairman. A separate high-level committee will oversee accommodation, catering and transport for athletes and guests.

The state government has stepped up preparations as part of its broader efforts to position Telangana as a major sports destination and destination for international events. The state has hosted several major events in recent years including Telangana Rising Global Summit, Miss World, BioAsia, Bharat Summit and BRICS related events.

KIYG’s preparations also come in the wake of the Telangana 2025 sports policy unveiled by Mr. Revanth Reddy in August last year with the stated aim of creating an ecosystem capable of producing Olympic medal winners and positioning Telangana as a global sports leader. The state is also supporting the Young India Physical Education & Sports University and digital fitness initiatives aimed at engaging younger generations.

The chief minister is understood to have shown keen interest in holding the games in Telangana and followed up on the proposal during his visits to Delhi, including discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers. Sources said Mr. Modi is likely to attend the games in December as the chief guest.

Published – 04 Oct 2026 19:08 IST