India Names 17 Athletes in 11 Sports for Dakar Youth Olympics

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The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday named a 17-member contingent across 11 sports for the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, the first Olympic event to be held on African soil.

Running from October 31 to November 13, the Games will see around 2,700 athletes from 207 delegations compete in 25 sports. Open to athletes aged up to 17, the event pairs high-level competition with learning and cultural exchange.

Talking about the Games, IOA President Dr PT Usha said, “Dakar 2026 is an important milestone for our young athletes. They represent the future of Indian sport, and among them may be the champions who will represent India at Brisbane 2032 and beyond. I wish the entire contingent every success and am confident they will make the country proud.”

“I also extend my best wishes to the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee and the Senegalese Olympic Committee. Hosting the first Olympic event on the African continent is a historic moment for the Olympic Movement, and we look forward to sharing this landmark occasion with Senegal and the wider Olympic community,” she added.

Usha is also expected to sign memoranda of understanding with the National Olympic Committees of several African nations, including Namibia and Mauritius, to enable athlete and coach exchanges, and the sharing of technical expertise and training practices. The IOA will also use the Games to exchange ideas on talent identification and athlete pathways as India looks towards Amdavad 2030 and Brisbane 2032.

Table tennis player Sarthak Arya, among India's promising young paddlers, is already looking ahead. “The Youth Olympics will be a stepping-stone in my journey. I dream of representing India at the Commonwealth Games in Amdavad in 2030 and then at the Olympic Games in Brisbane in 2032. Looking further ahead, if India gets the opportunity to host the Olympic Games in 2036, competing at home and hopefully winning an Olympic medal for my country would be truly special,” he said.

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