Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 19: The Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Education, will organise a week-long series of sporting activities to mark National Sports Day 2026, with competitions planned across multiple disciplines in Sri Vijaya Puram.
The Sports Week is being organised in connection with the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, observed as National Sports Day on August 29. The 2026 celebrations will be held under the theme “Khelega Bharat, Jeetega Bharat”, built around the three pillars of “Tribute, Play, and Move.”
The programme is aimed at promoting participation in sports and encouraging the spirit of sportsmanship among participants.
A total of nine sporting events have been scheduled as part of the National Sports Day Sports Week, covering indoor games, team sports, athletics and cycling. The competitions will be organised at venues including the Netaji Stadium Sports Complex, Multipurpose Indoor Sports Hall, GSSS Bathu Basti School Ground and the route between Netaji Stadium and Corbyn’s Cove.
The events include Squash, Billiards, Badminton Doubles, Hockey, Volleyball, Table Tennis Doubles, Road Race, Cycling and Sunday’s on Cycle.
The first set of competitions is scheduled to begin on August 22, with squash, billiards, badminton doubles and volleyball among the events listed for the day.
Squash in the Open Men category will be held at the Squash Court at Netaji Stadium Complex. Billiards for men will be organised at the Billiards Court in Sri Vijaya Puram.
Badminton Doubles competitions for Open and Veteran Men and Women will be conducted at the Multipurpose Indoor Sports Hall at Netaji Stadium. Volleyball competitions for Open Men and Women are also scheduled at the Netaji Stadium Sports Complex.
The Sports Week will continue with the Table Tennis Doubles competition for Open and Veteran Men and Women on August 24 at the Multipurpose Indoor Sports Hall.
The Hockey competition for both men and women is scheduled for August 27 at the GSSS Bathu Basti School Ground.
Athletic and cycling events will follow towards the end of the week.
A Road Race for Under-18 boys and girls, as well as Open Men and Women, will be organised on August 28. The route will run from Netaji Stadium to Corbyn’s Cove and back to Netaji Stadium.
The Cycling competition for Open Men and Women will take place on the morning of August 29, following the same Netaji Stadium–Corbyn’s Cove–Netaji Stadium route.
The sporting programme will conclude with Sunday’s on Cycle, an open event scheduled for August 30, also covering the route between Netaji Stadium and Corbyn’s Cove.
Interested participants and respective teams have been asked to register their names with the designated officials for the respective events before 9 am on August 21, 2026.
The winners, runners-up and second runners-up of the various competitions will be felicitated and awarded prizes during the main National Sports Day function.
The main function is scheduled to be held on August 29 at 4 pm at the Netaji Stadium Sports Complex.
The week-long programme brings together multiple sporting disciplines and age categories, providing opportunities for students, athletes, veterans and open-category participants to take part in the celebrations.
