Diu: India’s sporting landscape is set to expand to its sun-soaked coastlines with the inaugural edition of the Khelo India Beach Games, kicking off Monday at the scenic Ghoghla Beach in Diu.
Over 1,000 athletes from across the country will compete in a vibrant showcase of beachside competition, coastal culture, and athletic excellence.
The six-day sporting spectacle will feature six medal events—beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach kabaddi, beach sepak takraw, pencak silat, and open water swimming.
In addition, two demonstration sports, mallakhamb and tug-of-war, will highlight India’s rich traditional sporting heritage in a coastal avatar.
This isn’t Diu’s first brush with beach sports. In January 2024, the Union Territory successfully hosted a national beach sports event, where Madhya Pradesh emerged overall champions, with a total of 18 medals, including seven gold.
Host team Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, along with Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand, each secured 12 medals. Assam impressed as well, clinching five golds in their tally of eight.
The Beach Games represent the latest extension of the government’s flagship Khelo India initiative, which already includes the Youth, University, Para, and Winter Games.
Launched in 2017-18, Khelo India aims to foster grassroots sports development, identify promising athletes, and create a robust competitive structure across disciplines.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who will attend the opening ceremony alongside Minister of State for Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse, recently announced that Khelo India will now encompass school sports, martial arts, and water sports, reflecting the government’s broadened vision for inclusive athletic development.
Also in attendance will be Praful Khodabhai Patel, Administrator of the Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, and Lakshadweep.
The opening ceremony promises to be a cultural extravaganza. Top athletes such as Sakshi Punia (kabaddi), Joginder Singh (hockey), Trupti Murgunde (badminton), Mamta Prabhu (table tennis), and Ravi Kumar Katulu (weightlifting) will grace the event.
ALSO READ: Gaurav Gogoi slams Himanta over ‘insane’ allegations
Audiences will be treated to performances that reflect India’s diverse heritage, including Gujarat’s folk dance Garba, Punjab’s Bhangra, Kerala’s Kathakali, and Assam’s Bihu. Celebrated Gujarati singer Geeta Ben Rabari will also deliver a live musical performance.
With sun, sand, sport, and culture blending on the shores of Diu, the inaugural Khelo India Beach Games promise to set a high benchmark for coastal sports events in the country.
