Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept.19: Young sportspersons from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will get an opportunity to compete for selection to the 8th Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2026, with the Union Territory’s selection trials scheduled for the last week of October.
The Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, has called on Government and Government-aided schools and institutions, colleges, youth clubs, sports associations and other stakeholders to disseminate information about the selection process and encourage eligible athletes to participate.
The KIYG-2026 is scheduled to be hosted by Telangana in November or December 2026. The national-level sporting event will bring together young athletes from across the country and provide a platform for competition in various sporting disciplines.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands contingent is proposed to participate in both the Under-17 and Under-21 categories for boys and girls. Sportspersons falling within the specified age groups have been advised to prepare for the selection trials and take part in the process.
The disciplines identified for the Islands’ proposed participation include athletics, badminton, cycling, weightlifting and archery under individual events, while football, volleyball, kabaddi and kho-kho have been listed as team events.
The Directorate has asked institutions and sports bodies to support the outreach effort so that eligible and talented young sportspersons are informed about the opportunity and can participate in the trials.
However, details on eligibility requirements, trial venues and dates, along with other arrangements concerning the participation of Andaman and Nicobar Islands sportspersons, will be issued separately after the Administration receives the official notification.
The October selection trials will determine the sportspersons considered for representation from the Islands at KIYG-2026, while the Administration’s detailed notification will provide the remaining information required for participation.
