Khelo India Beach Games set to feature about 1000 athletes
With the focus on keeping the youth engaged in sports, the Khelo India Beach Games will be held in Diu, Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Daman from May 19 to 24.
Organised under the Sports Competition and Talent Development section of the Khelo India Scheme, the Beach Games will feature football, volleyball, sepak takraw, kabaddi, Pencak Silat and open water swimming. Mallakhamb and Tug of War will be demonstration sports.
Competition is expected to feature about 1000 athletes from across the country.
The government is keen to have fixed venues and a fixed calendar for different Khelo India Games to give talented youth maximum opportunity to gain attention, recognition and get on a pathway to progress.
The government is keen to train the best talent across different levels at world-class centres to achieve both the short term and long terms goals of international excellence.
The corporate sector has assured support in a big way. The government has categorically stated that it was not just the financial support that it sought to achieve with the collaboration of the corporate world, but to generate a healthy sports ecosystem in the country.
To further amplify the intent to support sports, the government is understood to be studying the options of allowing persons of Indian origin to represent the country in sports, in line with the stipulations of the international sports federations.
Apart from its drive for, 'play for India', the government is also ready to open its doors to, 'play in India', to encourage smooth conduct of international sports events in the country to further strengthen the ecosystem.
The sports ministry is proactive in resolving the conflicts in various national federations so that the sports could get back on track and make meaningful progress.
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The Hindu
15-06-2025
- The Hindu
Surf, sand and sports
The inaugural edition of Khelo India Beach Games organised in May in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu was a show of mixed emotions. The elation of victories paralleled the disappointments of falling short. During the open water swimming event, which was held under adverse weather conditions, parents were worried and were waiting on the shore for their competing children to safely return from the sea. Their concerns were drowned in the cheers of local people, volunteers and supporters for the children. The games were held on the blue-flag certified Ghoghla Beach near Diu town. Over 1,300 athletes from 31 States and Union Territories competed in six events — beach soccer, sepak takraw, pencak silat, open water swimming, beach volleyball, and beach kabaddi. Ironically, landlocked Manipur came out as the champions by the sandy shores of Ghoghla. Apart from the competition events, the hosts also put the U.T.'s own sporting talent on display on the final day of the games, demonstrating agility with Mallakhamb — a traditional form of gymnastics; strength with tug-of-war; and grit with boxing. The five-day event gave mediapersons a lot to deal with as photographers often had to deal with unwanted clutter in the background while looking for the perfect frame. Others would have to rival the decibel levels of booming speakers to get across to athletes. The natural lighting of dawns and dusks made covering the games early in the morning or late in the evening incredibly interesting, especially the events of beach kabaddi and sepak takraw, in which players were sort of flying over the sand to score points under the rising/setting sun spinning its own web. The Games had its moments despite challenges, and the beach sports community will hope that the competition augurs well for its future. Show of strength: Athletes in action during the beach kabaddi game. The spirit of the athletes at the Khelo India Beach Games was both fierce and joyous. Aiming for the net: Beach soccer teams from Kerala and Maharashtra fight it out. Sparkling start: A decorated boat during the opening ceremony of the Khelo India Beach Games on the Ghoghla Beach on the Diu Island on May 19. Grabbing eyeballs: A player from Maharashtra sends the ball back in a beach volleyball game. Swift strokes: Athletes participate in the 10-km open water swimming competition. Until one wins: Two women slug it out at the Pencak Silak competition. Champion of the water: Renukacharya Hodmani, representing Karnataka, secured the top spot in the men's category in the 10-km open water swimming contest. Fine balance: Athletes perform Mallakhamb at the opening ceremony. With all their might: The Kerala men's tug of war team in action during the final match. Radiant ending: Artists turn the closing ceremony of the Games to a celebration of the Union Territory as the competitive rivalry comes to an end.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
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Tug of war in India battles to change perception and pull itself out of obscurity
Five minutes and 22 seconds. That's how long the first pull lasted in the men's final between Punjab and Kerala at the Khelo India Beach Games — the longest in the tournament. Tug of war was one of two demonstration sports at the Games, and the pullers did just that — demonstrated sheer will and strength. Half-buried in the sands of Ghoghla beach, bodies leaned back nearly parallel to the ground, they looked frozen in time. Coaches barked orders. Spectators cheered. But the thick rope barely moved. Among those watching was Satish Kharatmal, a former player and now a referee with the Tug of War Federation of India (TWFI). He's seen the sport dismissed far too often. 'People think you just have to pull the rope. But most can't go beyond 30 seconds. To pull for five minutes, you need three-four years of training — not a 10-day camp.' A Long Way from Pro Hari Singh Thakur, TWFI president for six years, doesn't sugarcoat it. 'We're still far from making this a professional sport. Other countries have raced ahead. We've only just started sending national teams abroad. The results haven't come.' At the 2024 World Championships in Germany, all five Indian teams, selected through trials, finished last in their groups. The next step, Thakur says, is getting services — defence, police, public bodies — involved. 'That could raise the sport's quality and help players stay financially stable.' The Infrastructure Gap TWFI's technical head, Madhavi Patil, points to a deeper gulf. 'In countries like Switzerland, England, and Germany, there are tug of war clubs everywhere. Here, it hasn't spread beyond pockets. We're trying to take it to the districts.' India has the structures — krida mandals and vyayamshalas — but few of them focus on tug of war. Scientific training is still rare. Kharatmal remembers his early days when the technique wasn't even discussed. 'Now we're at least talking about stamina, fouls, fairplay. But we're years behind.' One recurring problem? Funding. The federation, despite being eligible for government support, rarely applies for it. Pre-pandemic travel concessions are gone, and local tournaments often run on registration fees from players. 'We're hoping athletes get central jobs under sports quota someday,' Patil says. Recognition Still Missing Punjab's men's coach Mandeep Singh, fresh off a gold medal win, is blunt: 'This sport isn't recognised in our State. There's no gradation. Kabaddi, hockey, cricket — they're recognised. Tug of war isn't.' Without gradation, athletes can't benefit from sports quotas or get public sector jobs. Gurpreet Singh, one of Punjab's players, says synergy is needed between the national federation and the State governments. 'The federation talks about grassroots, but we don't get support from the State. We even face financial issues while coming to tournaments like these. This sport is once again on the rise, and we hope the State and the federation work in tandem.' Many Punjab players work jobs — electricity boards, farms, juice shops — and play when they can. Despite that, Punjab remains a powerhouse. But Kerala is catching up. The southern State won two golds and a silver at the KIBG. Tug of war is a staple of Onam festivities and second only to football in popularity in many districts. Yet challenges persist. Many players work as daily-wage labourers. The women's team captain, Nima MT, says financial strain is real. 'We use our own money to attend nationals. We don't get jobs. Our certificates aren't recognised outside Kerala. That needs to change.' In the absence of structured support, local prize-money events — often backed by sponsors — keep the sport alive. These competitions also sustain the diverse styles of tug of war seen across Kerala. The shoulder-pulling technique, recently popularised by the Malayalam film Manjummel Boys, dominates in districts like Palakkad, Thrissur, and Malappuram. The style showcased at the KIBG, however, is more common in Kannur and Kasargod. Even the equipment varies wildly. 'We train with coir because it's cheap,' says Irshad K, Kerala's mixed team coach. 'Here they use plastic ropes. Jute ropes, used internationally, are expensive and hard to get.' What's Next? Tug of war was an Olympic sport between 1900 and 1920. Some in India hope for its return, but first, India needs to make a mark internationally. That starts with longer, more consistent training camps. 'We don't have regular camps. That's why we struggle,' says national coach Telin Thamby. 'We're planning one for three to four months next year.' For now, attention turns to trials in Nagaland ahead of the 2025 World Championships in England, where Thamby believes India could finally break through.
India Gazette
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Union Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurates residential wing of Weightlifting Warriors Academy
Modi Nagar (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 7 (ANI): Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday inaugurated the residential wing of the Weightlifting Warriors Academy, the centre where Olympic Silver Medalist Mirabai Chanu trains, marking a significant milestone in India's Olympic preparations for 2036. The state-of-the-art facility, established by Chief National Coach Vijay Sharma in September 2024, will now provide accommodation for up to 60 athletes in 30 fully equipped rooms. Currently, 40 young athletes aged 8-14 years and 15 elite athletes are also training at the academy. Speaking at the inauguration, Rijiju congratulated the team and expressed his confidence in the academy. 'I would like to congratulate the team at Weightlifting Warriors that the residential centre has opened. I am not just wishing you all good luck, but I have faith that a great champion will emerge from here. I have seen a lot of academies in my life... but the way Vijay has run this academy with dedication, and the way they work hard to make it a success. I have never seen that anywhere else,' he said, as quoted from a press release by Weightlifting Warriors. Olympic Silver Medalist Mirabai Chanu, who trains at the academy, expressed her commitment to mentoring the next generation and said, 'The 2036 Olympics is not just a dream for us, it is a commitment for our country. My young athletes, remember that when you train, you take the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians with you.' Chief National Coach Vijay Sharma shared his vision: 'The dream I had of an academy has come true today. With Mirabai's training, these kids can learn something and perform well in the next Olympics.' The academy operates under the Khelo India Scheme with support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India, Olympic Gold Quest, and the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF). (ANI)
