Till two years back, there was no opportunity for lakhs of talented youngsters around the country to participate in major beach games. The Khelo India Beach Games, currently being held in Daman and Diu, has emerged as a significant platform for these sportspersons to showcase their talent and aspire to make it to the international stage.
Umabati Patra’s Triumph
Umabati Patra from Odisha, who won the gold medal in Pencak Silat at the second edition of the Khelo India Beach Games, expressed her gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing such opportunities. “It feels amazing (to participate in these Games), and I am very happy to have won the gold medal. I would like to give credit to the Sports Department, Odisha, for helping us train well for this competition; they took care of our diet, and all facilities were great,” she said.
Patra acknowledged the hard work that led to her victory, stating, “We did hard work in the lead-up to the Games, and therefore we won the gold medal. Credit for winning this gold also goes to my coach, Prem Singh Thapa, who is the secretary of our state association, as they made all the arrangements for our training. Khelo India is a huge platform, and I am very grateful to Prime Minister Modi for starting it.”
Shreya’s Bronze Medal Achievement
Shreya, who secured a bronze medal in the Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG), shared her excitement: “It feels amazing to win a bronze medal on such a big platform. Khelo India is a huge platform and feels almost like an international event. I am very grateful for this opportunity.”
Event Details
The Khelo India Beach Games 2026, organised by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, is taking place under the technical supervision of the Sports Authority of India and national sports federations.
This edition of the Khelo India Beach Games is witnessing over 1,100 participants competing in eight different sports—volleyball, soccer, sepaktakraw, kabaddi, pencak silat, open water swimming, mallakhamb, and tug-of-war. The first six are medal sports, with 32 gold medals available.