The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, announced that Telangana will host the eighth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) in November 2026. The event is expected to bring together over 8,000 athletes, officials, and support staff from across the country. Telangana becomes the second southern state in three years to host the Games, following Tamil Nadu which hosted the 2024 edition.
Telangana to Host the 8th Khelo India Youth Games
Dr. Mandaviya made the announcement on 8 July 2026, emphasizing that the decision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of rotating major national events across all regions of the country. He noted that Telangana has the necessary infrastructure and enthusiasm to host an event of this scale.
The Minister also linked the timing of the 2026 Games to India’s performance at the Asian Games in Japan, which are scheduled to take place earlier in the year. He suggested that athletes returning from the continental event would be in peak form, creating an inspiring atmosphere for the younger participants at KIYG 2026.
Telangana becomes the ninth state to host the Khelo India Youth Games since the programme began in 2018. The previous editions were hosted by Delhi (2018), Maharashtra (2019), Assam (2020), Haryana (2021-22), Madhya Pradesh (2023), Tamil Nadu (2024), and Bihar (2025).
The Khelo India Programme: A Flagship Sports Initiative
The Khelo India Programme was launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports as a centrally sponsored scheme with the twin objectives of mass participation in sports and promotion of sporting excellence. It was formulated by merging three earlier schemes: the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), the Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS), and the National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS).
The programme is structured around 12 verticals, including creation and upgradation of sports infrastructure, talent identification and development, annual sports competitions, support to sports academies, promotion of rural and indigenous games, sports for women, sports for persons with disabilities, and community coaching development.
Khelo India Youth Games
The KIYG, originally launched as the Khelo India School Games in 2018, was renamed in 2019 after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) came on board. The Games are held every year for athletes in the under-17 and under-21 age categories, making it India’s premier platform for grassroots talent identification.
Selected athletes receive an annual scholarship of ₹5 lakh for eight consecutive years under the Khelo India Athlete (KIA) programme, which covers training, equipment, diet, and education. Over 2,700 Khelo India Athletes have been supported since the scheme’s inception, with many going on to represent India at international events, including the Asian Games and the Olympics.
| Edition | Year | Host | Overall Champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | 2018 | Delhi | Haryana |
| II | 2019 | Maharashtra | Maharashtra |
| III | 2020 | Assam | Maharashtra |
| IV | 2021-22 | Haryana | Haryana |
| V | 2023 | Madhya Pradesh | Maharashtra |
| VI | 2024 | Tamil Nadu | Maharashtra |
| VII | 2025 | Bihar | Maharashtra |
| VIII | 2026 | Telangana | TBD |
KIYG 2025: Maharashtra’s Hat-Trick and Bihar’s Historic Leap
The 7th Khelo India Youth Games were held in Bihar from 4 May to 15 May 2025, marking the first time the state hosted the event. Competitions were staged across five cities: Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Begusarai.
Maharashtra completed a hat-trick of titles, topping the medal table for the third consecutive edition and the fifth time overall. The state won 158 medals, including 58 gold, 47 silver, and 53 bronze. Maharashtra’s gold medals came from 14 different sports, led by athletics, swimming, gymnastics, archery, and weightlifting.
| Rank | State/UT | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maharashtra | 58 | 47 | 53 | 158 |
| 2 | Haryana | 39 | 27 | 51 | 117 |
| 3 | Rajasthan | 24 | 12 | 24 | 60 |
| 4 | Karnataka | 17 | 26 | 15 | 58 |
| 5 | Delhi | 16 | 20 | 32 | 68 |
| 12 | Telangana | 9 | 3 | 11 | 23 |
| 15 | Bihar (Host) | 7 | 11 | 18 | 36 |
A total of 26 records were set during the 2025 edition, including 13 national youth records in weightlifting and several meet records in athletics. The Games featured 28 sports disciplines, including traditional Indian sports such as Thang-ta, Kalaripayattu, and Mallakhamb.
Bihar delivered its best-ever performance, jumping from 21st position in the 2024 edition to 15th, with a 620% improvement in medal count. Telangana, which will now host the next edition, finished 12th with 23 medals (9 gold, 3 silver, 11 bronze).
Telangana’s Growing Sports Ambitions
The hosting of KIYG 2026 is part of a broader push by the Telangana government to establish the state as a national sports hub. In July 2026, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy inaugurated the Gachibowli Sports District in Hyderabad, a dedicated zone with sporting facilities across multiple disciplines.
Alongside the Sports District, the state launched the Young India Physical Education and Sports University (YIPESU), which is expected to become fully operational by December 2028. The university, named after Mahatma Gandhi’s historic publication “Young India”, will offer academic courses in sports science, coaching, and physical education. The IOA President and legendary athlete PT Usha attended the launch.
The state government has also announced a comprehensive sports policy, the first in Telangana in over a decade, and has committed to upgrading key stadiums including the Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy Stadium, LB Stadium, and Saroornagar Stadium to international standards. The Chief Minister has expressed the ambition to have Hyderabad host events of the 2036 Olympic Games if India wins the bid to host them.
Telangana has also been investing in athlete development. The state has awarded government jobs to prominent sportspersons including cricketer Mohammed Siraj and boxer Nikhat Zareen, and has provided cash incentives to shooters and para-athletes who have brought laurels to the state.
Key Takeaways
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The 8th Khelo India Youth Games will be hosted by Telangana in November 2026, with over 8,000 athletes and officials expected to participate.
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Maharashtra won the 7th KIYG held in Bihar in May 2025, securing 158 medals (58 gold, 47 silver, 53 bronze) to complete a hat-trick of titles.
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The Khelo India Programme was launched in 2018 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, merging three earlier schemes: RGKA, USIS, and NSTSS.
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Telangana is the second southern state in three years to host the Games, after Tamil Nadu hosted the 2024 edition.
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Telangana has launched the Gachibowli Sports District and the Young India Physical Education and Sports University (YIPESU), set to open by December 2028, as part of its push to become a sports hub.
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The state government has also expressed ambition to have Hyderabad host events of the 2036 Olympics if India wins the hosting rights.
