Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed officials to make comprehensive arrangements for the Khelo India Youth Games 2026, which the state is set to host. He called for the prestigious national-level sporting event to be organised on a grand scale, with a focus on infrastructure, facilities and professional management.
The Chief Minister reviewed preparations for the Khelo India Youth Games 2026 along with Sports Minister Vakiti Srihari and senior officials at the Bodhi Pavilion in the MCR HRD campus. He instructed officials to begin preparations for conducting the competitions in December and to ensure that the required infrastructure is developed well in advance.
Revanth Reddy directed authorities to assess the existing condition of stadiums in Hyderabad and take steps to upgrade them on a permanent basis to meet the requirements of national-level sporting events. He said the state government was prepared to provide the necessary funds for infrastructure development.
The Chief Minister also called for early planning of the opening and closing ceremonies. He suggested involving chief guests, prominent sportspersons and film personalities in the programmes and asked officials to clearly divide responsibilities related to infrastructure, sporting events and facilities for visiting guests.
He further directed officials to involve Arjuna Award-winning sportspersons from Telangana, members of the Telangana Sports Hub Board, representatives of the Olympic Association and national-level sports representatives in the event. Planning for their participation should begin immediately, he said.
With competitions in 20 sporting disciplines scheduled as part of the Khelo India Youth Games, officials were asked to identify suitable venues for each sport and make arrangements according to the specific requirements of the disciplines. The Chief Minister emphasised that the event should reflect the spirit of sports and provide a quality experience for participating athletes.
Government Adviser K. Ramakrishna Rao, Telangana Sports Authority chairman Shiv Sena Reddy, Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan and SATG Managing Director A. Soni Bala Devi were among those who attended the review meeting.
With preparations expected to begin well ahead of the December event, Telangana will now focus on venue development, infrastructure upgrades, event management and arrangements for athletes and guests.
