The countdown to the 8th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) officially kicked off today as Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy unveiled the official logo and mascot for the tournament. Scheduled to be held across six cities in Telangana from December 11 to 22, 2026, the Games will bring together around 8,000 athletes and participants. Speaking at the launch, Dr. Mandaviya highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of integrating sports into national development, while Chief Minister Reddy noted that such platforms steer youth away from substance abuse and advance the goal of a Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat.
Set to take place across Hyderabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, Hanumakonda, Mahabubnagar, and Nizamabad, the tournament will feature 29 disciplines, comprising 27 competitive sports and two demonstration events. Softball will make its debut as a full-fledged competitive discipline, while Sailing and Telangana’s traditional martial art, Karra Samu, will feature as demonstration sports for the first time. Alongside Softball, the competitive roster includes Athletics, Archery, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cycling, Fencing, Football, Gatka, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Kalaripayattu, Kho-Kho, Mallakhamb, Rowing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Thang-Ta, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling, and Yogasana.
Paired with the tagline “Khel Ka Junoon, Telangana Ki Jaan Aur Pehchaan”, the newly unveiled logo blends Telangana’s cultural heritage with athletic energy. It weaves together the Khelo India runner emblem, the Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, Hussain Sagar’s Buddha statue, the proposed Gandhi Tower at Bapu Ghat, and the state’s signature Tangedu flower alongside seven sporting silhouettes. Adding vibrancy to the Games is the official mascot, ‘Neelamani’—a dynamic figure adorned in blue and turquoise feathers symbolizing agility, courage, vibrancy, and pride.
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