The Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, has announced State-Level Selection Trials to form the Andaman and Nicobar sports contingent for the first edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games, scheduled to be held in Chhattisgarh in February 2026.
The Khelo India Tribal Games, being organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, aim to provide a national platform for tribal youth to showcase their sporting skills. The initiative is designed to support talent identification and create development pathways for gifted and talented athletes in the open-age category, with a focus on achieving excellence at higher competitive levels.
As part of this process, selection trials will be conducted on January 6 and 7, 2026, across multiple sports disciplines. Eligible tribal youth from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been invited to participate in the trials to secure a place in the Islands’ contingent.
According to the official schedule, football (men) trials will be held on January 6 at 8.00 am, followed by football (women) trials on January 7 at 8.00 am, both at BJR Stadium, Car Nicobar. Hockey (men) trials are scheduled for January 6 at 10.00 am, while hockey (women) trials will take place on January 7 at 10.00 am.
Trials for athletics (men) will be conducted on January 6 at 8.00 am, followed by athletics (women) on January 7 at the same time, at the Modern Sports Complex, Lapathy, Car Nicobar. The same venue will also host weightlifting (men) trials on January 6 at 10.00 am and weightlifting (women) trials on January 7 at 10.00 am.
For aquatic and precision sports, swimming (men) trials are scheduled for January 6 at 8.00 am, with swimming (women) trials on January 7 at 8.00 am. Archery (men) trials, including recurve and compound categories, will be held on January 6 at 8.00 am, followed by archery (women) trials on January 7 at 8.00 am. These events will take place at the Swimming Pool and Archery Range, Netaji Sports Complex, Sri Vijaya Puram.
The Directorate has specified that all interested participants must report for the trials with mandatory documents issued by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. These include the original Scheduled Tribe certificate with two self-attested copies, and the original State Domicile certificate with two self-attested copies, such as an Islander Card or Local Certificate.
Officials said the trials are being conducted to ensure transparent and merit-based selection of athletes who will represent the Islands at the national-level tribal games. The initiative is expected to encourage wider participation of tribal youth in organised sports and provide exposure to competitive platforms beyond the Islands.
For further information regarding the trials, participants may contact G Nagesh Rao at 7063974074 or A G Praveen Rao at 9474230278.
