Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya stated that the Khelo India Beach Games offer athletes a unique platform to showcase their talents on a naturally stunning surface while fostering a robust sporting culture across the nation.
The second edition of the Khelo India Beach Games is scheduled to take place at the Blue Flag Ghoghla Beach from January 5 to 10, featuring over 2,100 participants competing across eight sports. Organized by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, the event is under the technical supervision of the Sports Authority of India and national sports federations.
More than 1,100 athletes will compete in sports such as beach volleyball, beach soccer, beach sepak takraw, beach kabaddi, pencak silat, open water swimming, mallakhamb, and tug of war. Among these, the first six are medal sports, with a total of 32 gold medals up for grabs.
In the inaugural edition, Manipur, Maharashtra, and Nagaland secured the first, second, and third positions in the medal standings, each winning five gold medals. The final rankings were determined by the number of silver medals earned.
“The first Khelo India Beach Games generated a lot of excitement among participants. We are creating new platforms for athletes to express themselves and enjoy the sports they love. This aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of fostering a strong sporting culture so that our youth grow into healthy citizens,” Dr. Mandaviya remarked.
He also mentioned that more Khelo India events will be introduced in 2026, aiming to unite the nation through sports and spread joy through healthy competition.
Furthermore, the Union Minister emphasized that the Khelo India events align with the Khelo Bharat Niti. “Our endeavour is to make sports a mass movement and an integral part of the social fabric. Events like the Beach Games also help showcase India’s natural beauty to the world through sports,” he stated.
The opening ceremony of the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 is set for Monday evening at Ghoghla Beach, with Shri Praful Patel, Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep, and Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha in attendance.
Teams began arriving in Diu on Saturday, representing 29 states and Union Territories. The competition will kick off on the opening day with matches in beach kabaddi and beach soccer. In the previous edition, Haryana dominated beach kabaddi, while Kerala men and Odisha women clinched gold medals in beach soccer.
The Khelo India Beach Games are part of the sports competition and talent development vertical of the Khelo India Scheme. The inaugural edition took place in Diu from May 19 to 24, 2025, with the initiative aimed at promoting beach sports and enhancing the popularity of disciplines played on sand and in water bodies.